Trucks, Buses, Mpvs: Federal Lighting Equipment Location Requirements

Basic Equipment Required On All Trucks, Buses & Mpvs

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment (device) must be permanently attached in the location specified below and must comply with all applicable requirements prescribed for it by FMVSS/CMVSS 108. The face of any device on the front/rear and sides should be, respectively perpendicular and parallel to vehicle centerline, unless it is photometrically certified at installation angle. No part of the vehicle shall prevent any device from meeting its prescribed requirements unless an auxiliary device meeting all prescribed requirements is installed.

In Canada: Manufacturers and importers of vehicles must have the proper certification test records demonstrating compliance of lighting components with all prescribed requirements.

Basic Equipment Required On All Trucks, Buses & Mpvs

>(H, HR)
Attention: US: "DOT" lettering required on lens
Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens

DESCRIPTION				MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area	Equipment	(SAE Lens Coding)	Functional Purpose	Quantity	Color	Location	Height mm (in.) from the ground
1	Headlamps – Lower Beam	(H, HR) Attention: US: "DOT" lettering required on lens Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens	Forward road illumination	Minimum 2	White	On the front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable (If 4 lamp system – outboard or above upper beams)	560-1370 (22-54)
	Forward road illumination	Minimum 2	White	On the front – symmetrical ( If 4 lamp system – inboard or below lower beams )	560-1370 (22-54)
	Parking Lamps-Attention: Required only on vehicles less than 2032mm wide	(P)	Indicate parked vehicle	Minimum 2	White or Yellow	Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380-1530 (15-60)
	Daytime Running Lamps - Attention: for Canada required, for US optional.	(Y2) Attention: for US, "DRL" lettering required on lens if device is not headlamp	Indicate in-use vehicle	Minimum 2	White or Yellow	Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380 (15) minimum Maximum depends on type of DRL
	Front Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps	( l)	Indicate direction of turn / identify disabled vehicle	Minimum 2	Yellow	Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380-2110 (15-83)
2	Front Clearance Lamps- Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider	( P2, PC* or P3*,PC2) *photometrically certified at installation angle	Show vehicle’s width	Minimum 2	Yellow	At widest point – symmetrical – on the front or near the front – facing forward	As high as practicable
3	Front Identification Lamps (ID)	(P2 or P3)	Indicate presence of a wide vehicle	Exactly 3	Yellow	on the front – center – horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart	As high as practicable or on top of cab
4a	Front Side Marker Lamps	( P2, PC* or P3 ,PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle		Minimum 2	Yellow	Each side at front – as far forward as practicable	380 (15) minimum
4b	Front Side Reflex Reflectors	(A)	Front and Rear side marker lamps / side	Minimum 2	Yellow	At front – symmetrical – as far forward as practicable – facing sideward	380-1530 (15-60)
5a	Rear Side Marker Lamps **	(P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle	reflex reflector indicate vehicle’s presence and length	Minimum 2	Red	Each side at rear – as far back as practicable	380 (15) minimum
5b	Rear Side Reflex Reflectors** ** not required on Truck Tractors	(A)		Minimum 2	Red	Each side at rear – as far back as practicable – facing sideward	380-1530 (15-60)
6	Rear Clearance Lamps Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors	(P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle	Show vehicle’s width - MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps	Minimum 2	Red	At widest point – symmetrical – on the rear or near the rear – facing rearward	As high as practicable-may be lower only if rear ID lamps are at the top
7	Rear Identification Lamps (ID) Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors	(P2 or P3 )	Indicate presence of a wide vehicle	Exactly 3	Red	Rear – center – horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart, facing rearward	in Canada : at the top – maybe lower if door header narrower than 25mm in USA: as high as practicable
8	Tail Lamps	(T)	Indicate vehicle’s presence and width	Minimum 2	Red	On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380-1830 (15-72)
	Stop Lamps	(S)	Indicate braking	Minimum 2	Red	On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380-1830 (15-72)
	Rear Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps	( I)	Indicate direction of turn/ identifies disabled veh.	Minimum 2	Red or Yellow	On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable	380-2110 (15-83)
	Rear Reflex Reflectors	(A)	Show vehicle’s presence and width	Minimum 2	Red	On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable – facing rearward	380-1530 (15-60)
9	Backup Lamp	(R)	Illuminate ground behind the vehicle and alert road users	Minimum 1	White	Rear	No requirement
10	License Plate Lamp(s)	(L)	Illuminates license plate	Minimum 1	White	On the rear – above or at the sides of license plate	No requirement
11	Center High Mounted Stop Lamp Attention: Required for vehicles less than 2032mm wide and 4536kg	(U3)	Indicates braking	Minimum 1	Red	On the rear – centerline of the vehicle	860 (34) minimum

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIFIC VEHICLES

VEHICLES 9.1 m (30 ft.) LONG OR LONGER

DESCRIPTION				MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area	Equipment	(SAE Lens Coding)	Functional Purpose	Quantity	Color	Location	Height mm (in.) from the ground
12a	Intermediate Side Marker Lamps	(P2 or PC)	Indicate presence of a long vehicle	Minimum 2	Yellow	Each side near center	380 (15) minimum
12b	Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors	(A)	Indicate presence of a long vehicle	Minimum 2	Yellow	Each side near center – facing sideward	380-1530 (15-60)

TRUCK TRACTORS

DESCRIPTION		MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area	Conspicuity Treatment	DOT Code	Quantity	Color	Location	Height	Options
13	Rear Upper Body Marking	DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4	Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips	White	Rear upper corners of cab – facing rearward	As high as practicable excluding fairings
14	Rear Marking	DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4	Exactly 2 sections of min. 600mm each	Red/White	Rear – facing rearward – on fenders, on mud flaps brackets, or within 300mm below of the top of mud flaps	As horizontal as practicable and not higher than 1525 mm from the ground	If mud flaps not used – on the cab or frame mounted brackets

This table summarizes lighting equipment requirements contained in Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. For complete compliance requirements consult Title 49 – Code of Federal Regulations, Section 571.108. (USA) and Section 108 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada).

State or Provincial regulations, where they may apply, have not been included.

For more information contact:

Transport Canada: Motor Vehicle Safety Enforcement Branch
Attention: Marcin Gorzkowski
Fax: (613) 998-4831

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Safety Performance Standards
Attention: Rich VanIderstine
Fax: (202) 366-4329

TRUCKS, BUSES, MPVs: FEDERAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT LOCATION REQUIREMENTS

source: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.a17d2848031e27a1ba7d9d1046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_viewID=detail_view&itemID=48129134db1bff00VgnVCM1000002c567798RCRD&viewType=standard

Antilock Brake Systems (ABS)

Protect yourself and your family whenever you’re on the road. When used properly, an antilock brake system (ABS) adds an important measure of safety to your driving, under all conditions. ABS lets you maintain vehicle stability and directional control, and may reduce stopping distances during hard braking – particularly on wet and icy roads. But to work properly, you have to allow your ABS to do its job. So it’s important to understand how ABS works.

Wheel lockup: slippery when wet.

When your wheels lock up on wet and slippery roads or during a panic stop, you may lose traction and control, causing your vehicle to spin. Antilock brakes keep your wheels from locking up, so your car maintains directional control around hazards if you can’t make a complete stop in time.

The pumping heart of an antilock brake system.

ABS works with your regular braking system by automatically pumping them. In vehicles not equipped with ABS, the driver has to manually pump the brakes to prevent wheel lockup. In vehicles equipped with ABS, your foot should remain firmly planted on the brake pedal, while ABS pumps the brakes for you so you can concentrate on steering to safety.

More specifically, ABS automatically changes the brake fluid pressure at each wheel to maintain optimum brake performance just short of locking up the wheels. There is an electronic control unit that regulates the brake fluid pressure in response to changing road conditions or impending wheel lockup.

How to know if your vehicle is equipped with ABS.

Most newer vehicles offer ABS as either standard or optional equipment. To find out whether your car has an antilock brake system, and what type, read your owner’s manual. You can also check your instrument panel for a yellow ABS indicator light after you turn on the ignition. And when you buy, lease or rent a vehicle, always ask if it comes equipped with ABS.

There’s more than one kind of antilock brake system.
Four-wheel systems, including those found on cars and minivans, are designed to keep all four wheels from locking up. Rear-wheel-only systems, found on some pickups, vans and sport-utility vehicles, keep the vehicle from spinning out of control, but the front wheels may lock up, resulting in a loss of steering control.

The feel and sound of ABS.
When ABS is activated, you may experience a slight vibration or a rapid pulsation of the brake pedal’ almost as if the brakes are pushing back at you. At times, you will feel the pedal suddenly drop. The valves in the ABS unit may make a grinding, scraping or buzzing noise. This means your ABS is working. Continue to apply firm pressure and steer. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal.

Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without?
Perhaps, but that’s not the main purpose of ABS. It is a system designed to help you maintain control of the vehicle during emergency braking situations, not necessarily make the car stop more quickly. ABS may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads and most systems may shorten stopping distances on dry roads. On very soft surfaces, such as gravel or unpacked snow, ABS may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or icy conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions.

Stop and get to know your ABS.
After you consult your owner’s manual for more details, give your ABS a mini-road test. In an unobstructed parking lot, drive your vehicle at a speed above which the antilock brake system activates (usually above 10 mph) and apply the brakes firmly. The antilock brake system is speed-sensitive and will not activate at very slow speeds. Also, it’s easier to activate ABS on a wet and slippery surface. The antilock system should prevent the wheels from skidding. Practice NOT pumping the brake.

Other considerations for better braking.
How effectively you can stop your vehicle can be influenced by many factors including:

• Road conditions, since wet and slippery roads provide less tire friction and will therefore result in longer stopping distances than dry roads.
• Vehicle condition, including properly inflated tires that have good tread, and a properly maintained brake system that is free from defects such as worn linings, air or dirt in the brake fluid, or leaks that reduce the available braking force.
• Driver reaction time. At 60 mph, your car travels 88 feet each second. Reaction time, that is the time it takes a driver to identify a braking situation and then apply the brakes, will affect the overall distance to stop. A one-half second reaction time will result in a vehicle stopping 88 feet shorter from 60 mph than a one-and-one-half second reaction time. That is why it is important to always pay attention to the road and other traffic.
• Type of brake system. When faced with a panic braking situation, ABS allows a driver to rapidly apply the brakes without worrying about wheel lockup, and the vehicle begins to stop immediately. Without ABS, a rapid, hard brake application could cause wheel lockup and loss of vehicle steering control, if the driver does not pump the brakes correctly or limit the brake pedal force to prevent wheel lockup. Therefore, more driver skill is needed to obtain short stops without ABS.

Be the safest driver you can be. Call or log on for more information.
Call the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (327-4236), TDD 1-800-424-9153 or find more information on NHTSA’s web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.