If you’ve had a roadside accident or breakdown and your vehicle needs towing, it’s common to wonder about your own transportation to the tow destination at the same time.
You can choose to hire private transportation, including a taxi, to go on to your destination, but it may also be possible to save money by riding in the cabin of the tow truck with your tow truck driver.
Let’s take a look at the details of when this is possible, and why it sometimes might not be.
Ask Your Driver
The first thing to understand is that your tow truck driver does not, by law, have to offer you transportation to your destination.
While the majority of tow truck drivers might not mind, it’s important to ask your driver without assuming that you will definitely be able to get a lift in the cabin of the tow truck.
If your driver disallows it, for whatever reason, you will have to arrange alternate transportation. However, in many cases, your driver may say yes.
Why Might Your Driver Say No?
There are plenty of reasons why a driver may not allow you to ride in the cabin of a tow truck.
Travelling As A Group
If you are travelling in a group, it’s possible you will not all safely fit in the cabin of the tow truck.
In this instance, your driver may allow one passenger to travel in the cabin, but they will not (and shouldn’t!) allow more passengers than can safely sit in the cabin.
Riding With Children
If you’re travelling with children, this can complicate riding in the cabin of the tow truck. There are Australian laws in regard to children, that are related to child restraints and car seats while travelling in vehicles.
In many instances, the cabins of tow trucks may not be fitted with the correct anchors for these car seats. If there is no suitable restraint, a child under 1 can travel on a parent’s lap provided they are not in the front row of seats.
Parents and older children, if they cannot travel in line with Australian law regarding car seats, will have to travel separately and will not be allowed to get a lift in the cabin of the tow truck.
Be Aware of COVID Regulations
Due to Covid-19, many companies across Australia are enforcing physical distancing, which requires that people stay 1.5m apart at all times.
As you might guess, this makes it difficult to ride in the cabin of the tow truck with your driver without risking infection.
During the pandemic, it may be necessary to make your own arrangements for transport in order to maintain physical distancing, but you can check with your tow truck driver to see if this is necessary.
Get In Touch
If you’re looking for friendly, professional towing services in the Brisbane area, at SEQ Towing, we offer 24/7 towing services and roadside assistance.
Get in touch with us today to find out more about our services or to call us out and we’ll get to you as soon as possible.
