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Curriculum: Module 08 • Vehicle Maintenance & Environment
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Lesson 8.3 Vehicle maintenance, tyres, lighting and towing Regeling Voertuigen & Article 53 RVV 1990 4 min read

Cargo Overhang, Towing Cables & Nose Weight (Kogeldruk)

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Towing Safety • Realistische Verkeerssimulatie
Realistic Dutch driving scenario photograph
Inspect Photo
• Trailer nose weight (kogeldruk): proper weight distribution is essential to prevent dangerous snaking oscillations.
Towing Safety • High-Resolution Scenario Photo
Realistic Dutch driving scenario photograph
Trailer nose weight (kogeldruk): proper weight distribution is essential to prevent dangerous snaking oscillations. Press Esc to close

Cargo Overhang on Passenger Cars

  • Front Overhang (Voorzijde): Indivisible load (e.g. ladder, kayak) may project at most 1.0 metre beyond front bumper. Divisible load may not project at all.
  • Rear Overhang (Achterzijde):
    • Up to 1.0 metre: Permitted without a marker sign.
    • Over 1.0 metre: Requires an official square red-and-white striped marker board (42 × 42 cm) and a red light at night.
    • Absolute maximum: Overhang may not exceed 0.5 times the length of the vehicle, capped at 5 metres.
  • Side Overhang: May project at most 20 cm per side beyond the car body, provided total width does not exceed 2.55 metres.

Nose Weight (Kogeldruk)

Nose weight is the downward vertical load exerted by the trailer coupling onto the towball:

  • Too LOW (Te lage kogeldruk): The trailer loses stability, sways, and begins to fishtail dangerously at speed.
  • Too HIGH (Te hoge kogeldruk): Overloads the rear car suspension, lifting the front steering axle, causing loss of steering precision and dazzling oncoming drivers with upward-pointed headlights.

Towing a Broken-Down Car (Slepen)

Under Article 53 RVV 1990:

  • Distance between the two cars must never exceed 5.0 metres.
  • You may never enter a motorway while towing. If broken down on the motorway, towing is permitted strictly until the very first exit slip road.
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Essential Statutory Rules (RVV 1990)

  • Car indivisible cargo overhang: maximum 1.0 metre forward and rearward without marker board.
  • Overhang exceeding 1.0 metre at rear requires official square marker board (42 x 42 cm with red/white stripes).
  • Towing another car: distance between vehicles must not exceed 5.0 metres (Article 53 RVV).
  • Nose weight (kogeldruk): too low makes trailer fishtail; too high lifts car front wheels reducing steering grip.
CBR Exam Insight & Common Pitfall

Maximum allowable distance between a towing vehicle and towed broken-down car is 5.0 metres!

Official Statutory Basis
Regeling Voertuigen & Article 53 RVV 1990
In-Lesson Practice Drill

Check Your Understanding (4Questions)

Immediate CBR validation with instant answers and statutory RVV 1990 legal context. Scores persist in your module dashboard.

Question 1 of 4CBR Het Nieuwe Rijden Guidelines

According to the principles of Het Nieuwe Rijden (modern eco-driving), at approximately what engine speed should you shift up to the next gear in a diesel-powered car?

Question 2 of 4Article 53, RVV 1990

What is the statutory maximum permitted distance (in metres) between a towing vehicle and a towed passenger car? Enter the number in metres.

Question 3 of 4Article 34, paragraph 2, RVV 1990

Why is switching on the rear fog light (mistachterlicht) during heavy rainfall strictly prohibited under Dutch traffic regulations?

Question 4 of 4Vehicle Dashboard Standards & OBD Guidelines

While driving on a motorway, the amber/yellow engine check light (engine block silhouette) illuminates steadily on your dashboard. What should you do?