88What braking system a heavy motor vehicle must have

88 What braking system a heavy motor vehicle must have

88 What braking system a heavy motor vehicle must have

(1) A heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels built, or used, mainly for transporting goods or passengers by road must be fitted with—

(a) a braking system that—

(i) consists of brakes fitted to all wheels of the vehicle; and

(ii) has at least 2 separate methods of activation, arranged so effective braking remains on at least 2 wheels if a method fails; or

(b) 2 independent brakes, each of which, when in operation, acts directly on at least half the number of wheels of the vehicle.

(2) The braking system of a heavy motor vehicle mentioned in subsection (1) that was built after 1945 must have a service brake operating on all wheels that, when applied—

(a) acts directly on the wheels and not through the vehicle’s transmission; or

(b) acts on a shaft between a differential of the vehicle and a wheel.

(3) The braking system of a heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels must have a parking brake that—

(a) is held in the applied position by direct mechanical action without the intervention of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic device; and

(b) is fitted with a locking device that can hold the brake in the applied position; and

(c) has its own separate control.

(4) The parking brake mentioned in subsection (3) may also be the heavy motor vehicle’s emergency brake.

(5) If 2 or more independent brakes are fitted to a heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels, the brakes must be arranged so brakes are applied to all the wheels on at least 1 axle of the vehicle when any brake is operated.

(6) In this section—

independent brake, in relation to a heavy vehicle, means—

(a) a brake that is operated entirely separately from any other brake on the vehicle; or

(b) 2 or more brakes operated simultaneously by a drum, disc or part on which a shoe, band or friction pad makes contact, that is common to the brakes.