CHAPTER 3. BRAKES
IC 9-19-3
Chapter 3. Brakes
IC 9-19-3-1
Safety requirements; means of applying brakes
Sec. 1. A motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor-drivencycle, when operated upon a highway, must be equipped with brakesadequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold thevehicle. The brakes must include two (2) separate means of applyingthe brakes, each of which means must apply the brakes to at least two(2) wheels. If these two (2) separate means of applying the brakes areconnected in any way, the means must be constructed so that failureof one (1) part of the operating mechanism does not leave the motorvehicle without brakes on at least two (2) wheels.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-2
Motorcycles
Sec. 2. A motorcycle and a motor-driven cycle, when operatedupon a highway, must be equipped with at least one (1) brake, whichmay be operated by hand or foot.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-3
Trailers and semitrailers of gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more
Sec. 3. A trailer or semitrailer of a gross weight of at least threethousand (3,000) pounds, when operated upon a highway, must beequipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and tostop and to hold the vehicle. The brakes must be designed so that thedriver of the towing motor vehicle can apply the brakes from the cab,and must be designed and connected so that the brakes will beautomatically applied in an accidental breakaway of the towedvehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-4
New vehicle requirements; exceptions
Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (c), anew motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer sold in Indiana and operatedupon the highways must be equipped with service brakes upon allwheels of the vehicle.
(b) The following are not required to be equipped with brakes:
(1) A motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
(2) A semitrailer of less than three thousand (3,000) poundsgross weight.
(c) A truck or truck-tractor having at least three (3) axles is notrequired to have service brakes on the front wheels. If a truck ortruck-tractor is equipped with at least two (2) steerable axles, thewheels of one (1) steerable axle are not required to have servicebrakes although the truck or truck-tractor must be capable of
complying with the performance requirements of sections 7 through8 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.81-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-5
Mechanical connection from operating lever to brake shoes orbands
Sec. 5. One (1) of the two (2) means of brake operation undersection 1 of this chapter must consist of a mechanical connectionfrom the operating lever to the brake shoes or bands. The brake mustbe capable of holding the vehicle or a combination of vehiclesstationary under any condition of loading on any upgrade ordowngrade upon which the vehicle is operated.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-6
Brake shoes; service and hand operation
Sec. 6. The brake shoes operating within or upon the drums on thevehicle wheels of a motor vehicle may be used for both service andhand operation.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-7
Deceleration and stopping distance requirements
Sec. 7. A motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, at all timesand under all conditions of loading, must, upon application of theservice (foot) brake, be capable of decelerating and developing abraking force equivalent to the deceleration according to theminimum requirements set forth in this section and must be capableof stopping within the distances set forth in the following table:
Equivalent
breaking force
Deceleration in percentage
Stopping in feet per of vehicle
distance second per or combination
in feet second weight
Passenger
vehicles, not
including buses 25 17 53.0%
Single-unit vehicles
with a
manufacturer's
gross vehicle
weight rating of
less than 10,000
pounds 30 14 43.5%
Single-unit, 2-axle
vehicles with a
manufacturer's
gross vehicle weight rating of
10,000 or more
pounds 40 14 43.5%
All other vehicles
and combinations
with a
manufacturer's
gross vehicle
weight rating of
10,000 or more
pounds 50 14 43.5%
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-8
Determination of compliance with deceleration and stoppingdistance requirements
Sec. 8. Compliance with standards set forth in section 7 of thischapter must be determined by one (1) of the following:
(1) Actual road tests conducted on a substantially level (not toexceed a plus or minus one per cent (1%) grade), dry, smooth,hard-surfaced road that is free from loose material, and withstopping distance measured from the actual instant brakingcontrols are moved and from an initial speed of twenty (20)miles per hour.
(2) Suitable mechanical tests in a testing lane that recreates thesame conditions.
(3) A combination of the methods described in subdivisions (1)through (2).
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-9
Maintenance and adjustment
Sec. 9. All brakes must be maintained in good working order andmust be adjusted so as to operate as equally as practicable withrespect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
IC 9-19-3-10
United States Department of Transportation regulations;classification of violations
Sec. 10. (a) This section does not apply to a person who owns oroperates a vehicle or combination of vehicles that:
(1) contains parts and accessories; and
(2) is equipped;
as required under regulations of the United States Department ofTransportation.
(b) A person who violates this chapter commits a Class Cinfraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.