R.C.S.A. § 14-80-2a
Service brakes
Cite as Conn. Agencies Regs. § 14-80-2a
(a) Each motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles shall be equipped with service
brakes maintained in good and proper operating condition adequate to stop such vehicle
or vehicles within the following specified stopping distances at the speeds indicated
from the point where such brakes are first applied when such vehicle or vehicles are
operated on a dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material where
the surface grade does not exceed one (1) percent.
1. Passenger motor vehicles.
Speed
Required Stopping Distance
Miles per Hour
(Ft.)
20
24
30
54
40
91
55
172
2. Each motor vehicle equipped with a hydraulic service brake system having a G.V.W.R.
of 10,000 lbs. or less including school buses but not including passenger motor vehicles.
Speed
Required Stopping Distance
Miles per Hour
(Ft.)
20
29
30
65
40
144
55
272
3. Each motor vehicle equipped with a hydraulic service brake system having a G.V.W.R.
greater than 10,000 lbs. including school buses but not including passenger motor
vehicles.
Speed
Required Stopping Distance
Miles per Hour
(Ft.)
20
36
30
81
40
173
55
326
4. Trucks, buses and trailers equipped with air brake systems.
Speed
Required Stopping Distance
Miles per Hour
(Ft.)
20
35
30
75
40
131
55
246
5. Motorcycles.
Speed
Required Stopping Distance
Miles per Hour
(Ft.)
15
11
20
19
30
43
40
75
55
155
(b) The service brake on trucks and buses, including public service motor vehicles and
service buses manufactured after June 1, 1976 equipped with air brake systems shall
have:
1. An air compressor of sufficient capacity to increase pressure in the supply and service
reservoirs from 85 P.S.I. to 100 P.S.I. when the engine is operating at the vehicle
manufacturer’s mum recommended R.P.M. within a time, in seconds, determined by the
quotient
2. One or more service reservoir systems, from which air is delivered to the brake chambers,
and either an automatic condensate drain valve for each service reservoir or a supply
reservoir between the service reservoir system and the source of air pressure.
3. The combined volume of all service reservoirs and supply reservoirs shall be at least
12 times the combined volume of all service brake chambers at maximum travel of the
pistons or diaphragms.
4. Each reservoir shall be capable of withstanding an internal hydrostatic pressure of
5 times the compressor cutout pressure or 500 P.S.I., whichever is greater, for 10
minutes.
5. Each service reservoir system shall be protected against loss of air pressure due
to failure or leakage in the system between the service reservoir and the source of
air pressure, by check valves or equivalent devices whose proper functioning can be
checked without disconnecting any air line or fitting.
6. Each reservoir shall have a condensate drain valve that can be manually operated.
7. If the vehicle is intended to tow another vehicle equipped with air brakes, a system
to protect the pressure in the towing vehicle from the effects of a loss of air pressure
in the towed vehicle.
8. A pressure gauge in each service brake system, readily visible to a person seated
in the normal driving position, that indicates the service reservoir system air pressure.
The accuracy of the gauge shall be within plus or minus 7 percent of the compressor
cutout pressure.
9. A signal, other than a pressure gauge, that gives a continuous warning to a person
in the normal driving position when the ignition is in the "on" or "run" position
and the air pressure in the service reservoir system is below 60 P.S.I. The signal
shall be either visible within the driver’s forward field ofew, or both audible and
visible.
10. Each vehicle equipped with an antilock system shall have a signal that gives a continuous
warning to a person in the normal driving position when the ignition is in the on
or run position in the event of a total electrical failure of the antilock system.
The signal shall be either visible within the driver’s forward field of view or both
audible, for a duration of at least 10 seconds, and continuously visible. The signal
shall operate in the specified manner each time the ignition is returned to the "on"
or "run" position.