Glider pilots, balloonists and also other air sports enthusiasts use the Transport and for storage of valuable sports equipment motor vehicle trailers. Thereby there are a few legal requirements to consider.
Maximum speed
In Germany, caravans are usually allowed to drive on highways and Motorways can only be driven at 80 km/h. An exception to this is the so-called 100 rule. If the requirements are met, the trailer receives the 100 badge and an entry in the vehicle documents.
Since 2005, this exemption no longer applies only to the respective approved team, but for a trailer with any suitable Towing vehicle.
The sealed sticker must be attached to the back of the trailer be, on the towing vehicle this is no longer necessary.
However, in order to be allowed to drive at 100 km/h with the vehicle combination, all the Requirements must be met:
- The towing vehicle must be multi-track, have an anti-lock braking system and must not exceed 3.5 tons maximum permissible mass.
- The permissible total mass of the trailer may not exceed the unladen mass of the Do not exceed the maximum permissible weight of the towing vehicle.
- The tires of the trailer must not be older than six years and the speed class of the tires must be at least L (120 km/h).
- The trailer must be suitable for speed 100 km/h.
- The drawbar load of the towing vehicle must be approximately achieved, may but must not be exceeded.
It is essential to check before each trip whether all requirements are still met. (such as the age of the tires, among others) are fulfilled.
In the case of a retrofit or subsequent application for 100 approval, The trailer must be inspected by a technical inspection organization, such as TÜV or DEKRA. be reviewed. The latter issues a confirmation in the form of a test report. With this and the vehicle documents of the trailer one receives at the Admission office the speed 100 sticker. The exemption expires as soon as the trailer complies with the above requirements. no longer corresponds.
Abroad, the respective national regulations apply. Before a trip you should definitely inform yourself about this, partly apply sensitive Speeding fines / penalties.
In Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Italy, teams are allowed to generally drive at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. In the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Croatia 90 km/h speed limit on freeways, Portugal 100 km/h speed limit and in France (under 3.5t) even 130 km/h.
Since the vehicle combination in Germany but only up to 100km / h registered and has thus been tested as roadworthy, should for safety reasons only be 100 km/h can be driven fast. In the event of an accident, it could otherwise also Difficulties with the own insurance in the settlement give.
Brake fuse
The “Holland eyelet” is an eyelet on which the breakaway rope must or should be fixed. A breakaway cable is a metal cable that is attached to is attached to the tow bar and serves as a safety device in case the trailer hitch is should come loose from the ball head while driving. It is with the brake of the trailer and actuates it in the event of detachment from the towing vehicle. In many places the rope is simply placed over the trailer hitch of the towing vehicle. In other countries, this is partly not permitted and can cost up to several hundred euros. fines can be imposed for violations.
In Austria, likewise, only the existence of a “fuse connection” obligation, but the law says nothing about whether this must be firmly connected to the towing vehicle.
In Switzerland, too, there is no legal regulation on how and where the breakaway cable must be attached to the towing vehicle. In practice, however, it will be that the breakaway cable is connected in any case by a fixed eyelet to the towing vehicle must be connected.
In the Netherlands, a breakaway device is mandatory. For example, the rope must be be firmly connected to the towing vehicle by means of an eyelet. These facilities are colloquially referred to as “Holland eyelet”.
Of course, according to the Vienna Convention on the road traffic, also drivers of vehicles registered in Germany must adhere to the comply with the regulations of the other countries.
It is generally known that the fines for traffic violations in the abroad are very often significantly higher than in Germany.
Approval
Sports trailers can be registered with three different license plates in the Road traffic is moved. The purpose-built registration with green license plate is particularly interesting.
Special trailers according to § 3 par. 2 No. 2 letter e FZV for the carriage of gliders for sports purposes are trailers that have special, structural facilities or equipment, so that gliders for sporting purposes can be used for the can be transported.
Especially important: The trailer may only be used for the purpose of transporting the respective sports equipment must be used, otherwise penalties may be imposed due to Tax evasion or violation of the law on compulsory insurance, since both the tax exemption and the exemption from the insurance obligation expire if the trailer is used for other purposes, for example for a move.
The trailer is exempt from registration if it is equipped with special constructional features and is used for such transportation. will. It requires an official license plate according to § 8 FZV, this has the color “green”, a registration certificate part 1 is issued. Approval-free Trailers are exempt from tax according to § 3 No. 1 KraftStG.
For the general inspection the trailer must of course nevertheless be presented.
Insurance:
Such a sports trailer is not subject to compulsory insurance. The Trailer, if coupled, is also insured via the towing vehicle. Nevertheless it is advisable to take out insurance, as damage caused by a uncoupled trailers are not insured. For example, the parking brake can be fail or it was not tightened and the trailer comes uncontrolled rolling.
Fully comprehensive insurance for the trailer can also make perfect sense. A modern trailer can cost up to €20,000. This should be inquired, to include the trailer in the insurance of the aircraft, as a independent insurance is usually more expensive.
Fines
Higher fines apply to sidecars. The Catalog of fines 2019 provides for the following fines:
| Speeding with trailer out of town | Fine (EUR) | Points | Driving ban (months) |
| Up to 10 km/h | 15 | ||
| 11 to 15 km/h | 25 | ||
| 16 to 20 km/h | 70 | 1 | |
| 21 to 25 km/h | 80 | 1 | |
| 26 to 30 km/h | 95 | 1 | |
| 31 to 40 km/h | 160 | 2 | 1 |
| 41 to 50 km/h | 240 | 2 | 1 |
| 51 to 60 km/h | 440 | 2 | 2 |
| over 60 km/h | 600 | 2 | 3 |
| Speeding with trailer in the city | Fine (EUR) | Points | Driving ban (months) |
| up to 10 km/h | 20 | ||
| 11 to 15 km/h | 30 | ||
| 16 to 20 km/h | 80 | 1 | |
| 21 to 25 km/h | 95 | 1 | |
| 26 to 30 km/h | 140 | 2 | 1 |
| 31 to 40 km/h | 200 | 2 | 1 |
| 41 to 50 km/h | 280 | 2 | 2 |
| 51 to 60 km/h | 480 | 2 | 3 |
| over 60 km/h | 680 | 2 | 3 |
A driving ban can only ever be served “in one piece”, a division is not possible. If, in the last two years before the legal validity of the fine decision has already imposed a driving ban once, the driving ban takes effect when the decision becomes final, otherwise the Traffic offender the driving ban within four months from the date of legal effect compete.
Driving license
Driving a team – which Driving license is required?
| Class B | Towing vehicle up to 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight and trailer with a maximum permissible mass of up to 750 kg; If the trailer has a higher maximum permissible mass than 750 kg, the maximum permissible mass of the combination must not exceed 3,500 kg. exceed |
| Class B 96 | Class B towing vehicle and a trailer with a permissible Total mass of more than 750 kg, provided that the maximum permissible mass of the Vehicle combination does not exceed 4,250 kg |
| Class BE | Class B towing vehicle and a trailer, if the maximum permissible mass of the trailer does not exceed 3.5 t |
In terms of driving dynamics, a car/trailer combination behaves differently than a solo vehicle. This begins with a larger curve radius, the distance to the edge of the road and the other road users is unfamiliar and reversing or turning causes occasional difficulties. It should therefore be practiced before longer trips. be
Towing capacity
It is essential to pay attention to the trailer load and the drawbar load, these can be found in the registration certificate part 1. Should the drawbar load in the worst case even be negative, the drawbar thus the trailer coupling upwards, the carriage can start to lurch to such an extent that the driver can no longer bring the team under control. Serious accidents can be the consequence.
It must also be ensured that the towing capacity of the towing vehicle is not is exceeded.
Attention: Exceeding the maximum permissible mass is a criminal offense of driving without a license according to. § 21 StVG! The holder must also point out The driver must ensure that the driver to whom, for example, he lends the vehicle combination, has the necessary driving license. Otherwise he may be liable to prosecution himself make for allowing driving without a license. So rather and if in doubt, ask to see your driver’s license!
Fuse
The load of a trailer – like that of the towing vehicle – must be well be secured. Violations of the obligation to secure loads, for example, will be punishable by the following fines:
| Facts | Fine | Points |
| Non-compliant load – the Road safety suffered significantly | 80 | 1 |
| With accident | 120 | 1 |
Car trailers that are not connected to the towing vehicle may be parked in public traffic areas for a maximum of two weeks. Re-parking is not allowed because the two-week period applies to an entire parking area, not just a specific parking space.
You can find the article published in Luftsport 03/19 here as pdf
RA Frank Dörner
Ass.jur. Werner Hupfauer