25.1.8.300 Brakes: Brake Equipment Required

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, when operated upon a highway; shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two (2) separate means of applying the brakes, each of which in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least two (2) wheels.

(b) From and after the effective date of the Act ever bus, truck, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, and pold trailer shall be equipped with brakes on all wheels in contact with road surfaces, except:

(1) Trailers, semi-trailers, and pole trailers of gross weight of not less than 3,000 pounds;

(2) Any vehicle being towed in a drive-away/tow-away operation, provided the combination of vehicles is capable of complying with the performance requirements of Act.

(3) Trucks, truck tractors, and road tractors having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels;

(4) Motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and motor vehicles of the types named in this section hereinabove, heretofore manufactured prior to the effective date of this Act.

(c) Brakes on House Trailers.

(1) From and after the effective date of this Act, every house trailer of a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds, registered in the state, shall be equipped with brakes on at least two (2) wheels in contact with road surfaces.

(2) Every house trailer of a gross weight of 3,000 pounds of more, when operated upon a highway (roadway) shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, and to stop and to hold such vehicle, and so designed as to be applied by the driver of the towing motor vehicle.

(d) Parking Brakes. Every bus, truck road tractor, or truck tractor shall be equipped with parking brakes capable of locking the rear driving wheels and adequate under any condition of loading to hold, to the limit of traction of such braked wheels, such vehicle or combination of vehicles to which such motor vehicle may be attached. The operating controls of such parking brakes shall be independent of the operating controls of the service brakes.

(e) In any combination of motor-drawn vehicles, means shall be provided for applying the rearmost trailer brakes, for any trailer equipped with brakes, in approximate synchronism with the brakes on the towing vehicle and developing the required breaking effort on the rearmost wheels at the fastest rate; or means shall be provided for applying braking effort first on the rearmost trailer equipped with brakes; or both of the above means capable of being used alternatively may be employed.

(f) The brake shoes operating within or upon the drums on vehicle wheels of any motor vehicle may be used for both service and hand operation.

(g) Performance Ability of Brakes. Every motor vehicle or combination of motor-drawn vehicles shall be capable, at all times and under all conditions of loading, of being stopped on dry, smooth, level road, the distance specified below, or shall be capable of being decelerated at a sustained rate corresponding to these distances:

(h) Maintenance of Brakes. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.