2012 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 56 - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 5 - UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS
Section 56-5-4860 - Performance ability of brakes; tests for deceleration and stopping distances.

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 twenty miles per hour at not less than the feet per second tabulated herein for its classification, and

(c) Stopping from a speed of twenty 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 controls begins.

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

Classification of Vehicles Braking force Deceleration Brake System

at a in feet per application

percentage second and braking

of gross distance in

vehicle or feet from

combination an initial

weight speed of 20

m.p.h.

(A) Passenger vehicles with a 52.8% 17 25

seating capacity of ten

people or less including

driver, not having a

manufacturer's gross

vehicle weight rating

(B-1) All motorcycles and 43.5% 14 30

motor-driven cycles

(B-2) Single unit vehicles with 43.5% 14 30

a manufacturer's gross

vehicle weight rating of

10,000 pounds or less

(C-1) Single unit vehicles with 43.5% 14 40

a manufacturer's gross

weight rating of more

than 10,000 pounds

(C-2) Combination of a two-axle 43.5% 14 40

towing vehicle and a

trailer with a gross

trailer weight of 3,000

pounds or less

(C-3) Buses, regardless of the 43.5% 14 40

number of axles, not

having a manufacturer's

gross weight rating

(C-4) All combinations of 43.5% 14 40

vehicles in

driveaway-towaway

operations

(D) All other vehicles and 43.5% 14 50

combinations of vehicles

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-562; 1952 Code Section 46-562; 1949 (46) 466; 1964 (53) 2127.