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Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:342

  • Combination of vehicles: means every group of two or more vehicles howsoever joined together which are drawn or propelled by a single motor vehicle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
  • Gross weight: means the weight of a vehicle and/or combination of vehicles without load on all axles including the steering axle plus the weight of any load thereon. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
  • Motor vehicle: means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, but excluding a motorized bicycle and an electric-assisted bicycle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
  • Stop: means , when required, the complete cessation from movement. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
  • stopping: means , when prohibited, any halting, even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer, weights and standards police officer, or traffic control sign or signal. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
  • Vehicle: means every device by which persons or things may be transported upon a public highway or bridge, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1

A.  Every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service (foot) brake, shall be capable of:

(1)  Developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight tabulated herein for its classification;

(2)  Decelerating in a stop from not more than 20 miles per hour at not less than the feet per second tabulated herein for its classification; and

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

B.  Test for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus one per cent grade), smooth, hard surface that is free from loose material.

CLASSIFICATION TABLE FOR APPLICATION

Classification of vehicles and combinations

Braking force as a percentage of gross vehicle or combination wt.

Deceleration in feet per second

Brake system application and braking distance in feet per second

I

II

III

IV

52.8%

43.5%

43.5%

43.5%

17

14

14

14

25

30

40

50

Acts 1962, No. 310, §1; Acts 2014, No. 438, §1.