Is that correct?

 

Don't quote me / but I'd say unlikely as traffic police & traffic officers on the motorway networks carry them .
A sub standard rope or twine cud well be tho , may fall under unsafe carridge or unsecured load regs ? Jst a guess tho

 

I heard this too, towing bars only. Not looked into though.

 

I think tow ropes are illegal on motorways - you can use them on the 'roads'

For motorways you have to use a rigid structure

 

Emergency use only.

For instance so plod can use one to tow a car off the carriageway or to a safe point of refuge pending arrival of a proper recovery vehicle. Or to unstick a stuck vehicle (snow, mud, flood etc).

Non-emergency use like towing a unroadworthy car to a scrappers/garage is highly dubious.

I've always used a staright bar. I once towed my Landy 20miles on twisty A/B-roads with a rope, and cooked the brakes trying not to run into the back of my mate towing me, who kept forgetting I only had drum barkes and the servo was no longer working. That was enough for me, used a straight bar ever since..

 

Saw a van pulling an old banger yesterday with rope. Funny thing was the rope was at least 30 feet long.....
Made me chuckle.