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Florida Statutes Title XXIII. Motor Vehicles § 316.262. Performance ability of motor vehicle brakes

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

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

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

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

(c) 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.

(2) Tests for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus 1 percent grade), dry, smooth, hard surface that is free from loose material.

Classification
of vehicles

Braking force as a percentage of gross vehicle or combination weight

Deceleration in feet per second per second

Brake system application and braking distance in feet from an initial speed of 20 mph

A

Passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 people or
less including driver, not having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating

52.8%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

17

25

B

Single unit vehicles with a
manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of 10,000 pounds
or less

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

30

C-1

Single unit vehicles with a
manufacturer's gross weight
rating of more than 10,000
pounds

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

40

C-2

Combination of a two-axle
towing vehicle and a trailer
with a gross trailer weight of
3,000 pounds or less

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

40

C-3

Buses, regardless of the number of axles, not having a manufacturer's gross weight rating

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

40

C-4

All combinations of vehicles in
driveaway--towaway operations

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

40

D

All other vehicles and combinations of vehicles

43.5%․․․․․․․․․․․․․

14

50

(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Florida Statutes Title XXIII. Motor Vehicles § 316.262. Performance ability of motor vehicle brakes - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/fl/title-xxiii-motor-vehicles/fl-st-sect-316-262/

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