Section 22-302 - Performance ability of brakes.

MARYLAND STATUTES AND CODES

Section 22-302 - Performance ability of brakes.

§ 22-302. Performance ability of brakes.

(a) Requirements.- Every motor vehicle and combination of vehicles, at all times and under all conditions of loading, on application of the service brake, shall be capable of:

(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight tabulated in subsection (c) of this section for its classification;

(2) Decelerating to a stop from not more than 20 miles an hour at not less than the feet per second tabulated in subsection (c) of this section for its classification; and

(3) Stopping from a speed of 20 miles an hour in not more than the distance tabulated in subsection (c) of this section for its classification, this distance to be measured from the point at which movement of the service brake pedal or control begins.

(b) Testing.- Tests for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus 1 percent grade), dry, smooth, hard surface that is free from loose material.

(c) Tabulations.- The following table sets forth the tabulations referred to in subsection (a) of this section:



              1                          2             3              4
                                                                 Brake sys-
                                      Braking                   tem applica-
                                    force as a                    tion and
                                    percentage                  braking dis-
                                     of gross      Deceler-     tance in feet
                                    vehicle or       ation         from an
                                    combination     in feet     initial speed
Classification of vehicle           weight      per second    of 20 m.p.h.
A    Passenger vehicles with a
     seating capacity of 10 people
     or less including driver, not
     having a manufacturer's gross
     vehicle weight rating               52.8%          17            25
B-1 All motorcycles                     43.5%          14            30
B-2 Single unit vehicles with a
     manufacturer's gross vehicle
     weight rating of 10,000
     pounds or less                      43.5%          14            30
C-1 Single unit vehicles with a
     manufacturer's gross weight
     rating of more than 10,000
     pounds                              43.5%          14            40
C-2 Combination of a two-axle
     towing vehicle and a trailer
     with a gross weight of 3,000
     pounds or less                      43.5%          14            40
C-3 Buses, regardless of the
     number of axles, not having a
     manufacturer's weight rating        43.5%          14            40
C-4 All combinations of vehicles
     in driveaway-towaway
     combinations                        43.5%          14            40
D    All other vehicles and
     combinations of vehicles            43.5%          14            50