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Maryland Code, Transportation § 22-302

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

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

(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight tabulated in subsection (c) of this section for its classification;

(2) Decelerating to a stop from not more than 20 miles per hour at not less than the feet per second tabulated in subsection (c) of this section for its classification; and

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

(b) 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.

(c) The following table sets forth the tabulations referred to in subsection (a) of this section:

 

1

2

3

4

 

Classification of
vehicle

Braking force
as a percentage
of gross vehicle
or combination
weight

Deceleration
in feet per
second

Brake system
application and
braking
distance in
feet from
an initial
speed of
20 m.p.h.

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-1

All motorcycles․․․․․․․․․

43.5%

14

30

B-2

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

31%

10

20

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 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 weight rating

43.5%

14

40

C-4

All combinations of vehicles in driveaway-towaway combinations

43.5%

14

40

D

All other vehicles and combinations of vehicles

43.5%

14

50
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Transportation § 22-302 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/transportation/md-code-trans-sect-22-302/

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