Abstract: Control of a contactless cleaning element (18) in the cleaning line of a vehicle washing system, is accomplished by transmitting at least two energy beams (96, 98) transversely across the vehicle path. When the first beam (96) is interrupted by the passing vehicle, a motor device (64, 66) operates at a normal speed to move the cleaning element away from the vehicle. When the second beam (98) is interrupted, the motor device operates at a higher speed to move the cleaning element away at a faster rate. The cleaning element is pivotally connected by parallel arms (42, 72) to a gantry (12) so that actuation of the motor (64, 66) maintains substantially constant discharge angles relative to the vertical for two spaced apart discharge slots (102, 124) in the cleaning element. The motor (64) is mounted to the gantry 12 by a failsafe slidable carriage assembly (110).