EQUIPMENT

Highway Traffic Act

R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 587

EQUIPMENT

Historical version for the period April 21, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

Last amendment: 420/22.

Legislative History: 229/95, 276/99, 305/00, 115/08, 396/08, 375/09, 73/11, 405/16, 374/17, 376/17, 414/21, 420/22.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

Brakes

1. Revoked: O. Reg. 73/11, s. 1.

2. (1) Where the vehicle has a clutch, a brake test shall be made with the clutch disengaged. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 2 (1); O. Reg. 73/11, s. 2 (1).

(2) Where the vehicle has no clutch, a brake test shall be made without motive power being applied to the driving wheels, except in the case of electrical brakes. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 2 (2); O. Reg. 73/11, s. 2 (2).

3. (1) The brakes required by section 64 of the Act and this Regulation shall be adequate to stop the vehicle or combination of vehicles referred to in Column 1 of the Table within a distance not greater than the distance set opposite the vehicle or combination of vehicles in Column 2 while being operated at a rate of speed of twenty miles per hour on a dry, smooth, hard asphalt or other paved surface free from loose material and having not more than 1 per cent gradient. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 3.

(2) A testing device that measures stopping distance based on peak deceleration shall be used for the purposes of subsection (1). O. Reg. 73/11, s. 3 (1).

TABLE

Item	Column 1 Vehicle	Column 2 Distance
1.	A motor vehicle having a seating capacity for less than 10 persons	25 feet
1.1	A motor tricycle	25 feet
2.	A motorcycle other than a motor tricycle	30 feet
3.	A commercial motor vehicle having a registered gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less	30 feet
4.	A commercial motor vehicle having a registered gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds	40 feet
5.	A combination of a motor vehicle and a trailer where the trailer has a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less	40 feet
6.	A combination of a motor vehicle and a trailer where the trailer has a gross weight of more than 3,000 pounds or a combination of a motor vehicle and more than one trailer	50 feet
7.	A combination of a motor vehicle and a mobile home	50 feet

R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 3; O. Reg. 115/08, s. 1; O. Reg. 73/11, s. 3 (2).

4. Every mobile home when on a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to stop and to hold the vehicle as required by this Regulation, and all such brakes and braking systems shall be maintained in good working order. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 4.

5. (1) The push rod stroke of the service brake chamber of a vehicle equipped with wheel brake air chambers shall not be more than the push rod stroke listed in Column 2 of Schedule 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, as the case may be, for the type of chamber listed in Column 1 of the applicable Schedule, if the wheel brake has cam or disc type brakes. O. Reg. 376/17, s. 1 (1).

(2) The push rod stroke of the service brake chamber of a vehicle equipped with wheel brake air chambers shall be not more than the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum push rod stroke if the brake chamber type does not appear in Column 1 of Schedule 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1; O. Reg. 276/99, s. 1 (2); O. Reg. 376/17, s. 1 (2).

(3) If the wheel brakes of a vehicle equipped with wheel brake air chambers have wedge type brakes, the combined movement of both brake shoe linings shall not exceed one-eighth of an inch. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(4) Measurements of wheel brakes under subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall be taken with the vehicle engine turned off, an initial air system pressure between 90 and 100 psi, the park brakes released and the service brake actuator fully applied. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(5) Subject to section 5.1, all the wheels of a vehicle manufactured after April 30, 1995 that is equipped with wheel brake air chambers shall have wheel brakes each of which is automatically adjustable. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1; O. Reg. 405/16, s. 1.

(6) Each wheel brake referred to in subsection (5) that is equipped with an external adjustment mechanism and has an exposed push rod shall have an indicator that indicates the condition of service brake under-adjustment. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(7) The indicator referred to in subsection (6) must be visible to a person with 20/40 vision who is adjacent to or underneath the vehicle. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(8) No wheel brake shall be removed, rendered partly or wholly inoperable, modified so as to reduce its effectiveness or shall operate improperly. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(9) Brakes shall be adjusted so that the braking power is applied as equally as possible to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. O. Reg. 229/95, s. 1.

(10) A motorcycle shall be equipped with two independently actuated service brake systems, one applying at least the front wheel brakes and the other applying at least the rear wheel brakes, unless the motorcycle was manufactured solely with a split-service brake system, within the meaning of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 122 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada), and the split-service brake system,

(a) met the requirements of that Standard at the time it was manufactured;

(b) has a single actuator; and

5.1 (1) Subsection 5 (5) does not apply to a mobile equipment vehicle if the vehicle was not equipped with automatically adjustable wheel brakes at the time it was manufactured. O. Reg. 405/16, s. 2.

(2) In this section,

“mobile equipment vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ontario Regulation 398/16 (Road-Building Machines) made under the Act. O. Reg. 405/16, s. 2.

Reflectors

6. A motor vehicle or trailer having a width in excess of eighty inches may display a reflector approved by the Ministry instead of a clearance lamp on the rear of the vehicle. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 6.

7. (1) A trailer shall be equipped with conspicuity markings as follows:

1. On and after June 1, 2000 and before January 1, 2002, a trailer manufactured after December 1, 1993 whose overall width is greater than 2.05 metres and whose gross vehicle weight rating is greater than 4,500 kilograms shall be equipped with conspicuity markings in accordance with United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 S. 5.7 that became effective on December 1, 1993 or with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 that became effective on January 24, 1997.

2. On and after January 1, 2002, every trailer whose overall width is greater than 2.05 metres and whose gross vehicle weight rating is greater than 4,500 kilograms shall be equipped with conspicuity markings in accordance with United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 S. 5.7 that became effective on December 1, 1993 or with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 that became effective on January 24, 1997. O. Reg. 305/00, s. 1.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a trailer designed exclusively for living or office use. O. Reg. 305/00, s. 1.

Non-Application of Section 103 of the Act

8. Subsection 103 (1) of the Act does not apply to,

(a) a commercial motor vehicle, or a trailer drawn by it, registered in the name of or operated under any form of contract on behalf of,

(i) a department of a provincial government,

(ii) a department of the government of Canada,

(iii) a board or commission the members of which are appointed by the Governor General in Council or a Lieutenant Governor in Council,

(iv) a municipality,

(v) a board or commission the members of which are appointed by a municipality, or

(vi) a public service corporation, board or commission,

if the vehicle or trailer bears a mark or sign indicating ownership;

(b) a commercial motor vehicle registered in the name of or operated under any form of contract on behalf of a funeral director;

(c) a motor vehicle classified for registration purposes as a dual-purpose vehicle other than one licensed as a public vehicle or public truck;

(d) a commercial motor vehicle operated under a written lease or a written agreement for the exclusive use of a person other than the owner where the vehicle bears a mark or sign indicating ownership;

(e) a motor vehicle designed, equipped and used exclusively for living accommodation, commonly known as a motorized mobile home;

(f) a commercial motor vehicle to which is attached temporarily or permanently, a structure designed, used and maintained as a mobile dwelling unit commonly known as a camper; or

(g) a commercial motor vehicle having a registered gross weight of up to and including 18,000 pounds, other than one licensed as a public vehicle or a public truck. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, s. 8.

9. Revoked: O. Reg. 375/09, s. 1.

Motor Tricycles

10. Revoked: O. Reg. 374/17, s. 2.

11. (1) In this section,

“motor tricycle” means a motorcycle that,

(a) is designed to travel on three wheels in contact with the ground,

(b) has seating on which all occupants must sit astride,

(d) has a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of 1,000 kilograms or less,

(e) has a minimum wheel rim diameter of 250 millimetres,

(f) has a minimum wheel base of 1,016 millimetres, and

(g) does not have a structure partially or fully enclosing the driver and passenger, other than that part of the vehicle forward of the driver’s torso and the seat backrest. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(2) For the purpose of determining the number of wheels on a motorcycle, two wheels are considered to be one wheel if they are mounted on the same axle and the distance between the centres of their areas of contact with the ground is less than 460 millimetres. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(3) A motorcycle with two front wheels shall not be operated on the highway unless it is a motor tricycle that,

(a) bears the manufacturer’s compliance label issued under section 6 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) specifying the type of vehicle as “TRI” for motor tricycle or, in the case of an imported motor tricycle, a compliance label or other label as provided for in section 12 of those Regulations; and

(b) continues to meet the regulatory standards that applied to it at the time it was manufactured or imported. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(4) A motor tricycle shall not have more seating positions than it had when originally manufactured. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(5) A motor tricycle originally manufactured for sale in Canada shall not have more than two seating positions unless the motor tricycle,

(a) was originally manufactured with more than two seating positions; and

(b) bears the manufacturer’s compliance label issued under section 6 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) specifying the type of vehicle as “TRI” for motor tricycle. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(6) An imported motor tricycle shall not have more than two seating positions unless the motor tricycle,

(a) was originally manufactured as a motor tricycle with more than two seating positions; and

(b) bears a compliance label or other label to prove conformity as provided for in section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada). O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(7) A motor tricycle shall be fitted with at least two mirrors that conform to the requirements set out in Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 under the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada). O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(8) Every motor tricycle shall have a parking brake adequate to hold the vehicle stationary for a few seconds when tested at light throttle in low forward gear and in reverse. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(9) None of the original controls of the brake system of a motor tricycle, including the anti-lock brake controls, shall have been removed, modified or replaced so that their effectiveness is reduced. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

(10) In the case of a motor tricycle originally fitted with an electronic stability control system, such system shall not be missing and there shall be no indication of a malfunction in the system. O. Reg. 115/08, s. 3.

Speed-Limiting Systems

12. For the purposes of section 68.1 of the Act,

“commercial motor vehicle” means a commercial motor vehicle as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Act. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

13. (1) A commercial motor vehicle is exempt from subsections 68.1 (1), (2), (3) and (6) of the Act if it is,

(a) a bus;

(b) a mobile crane;

(d) a vehicle manufactured before 1995;

(e) a vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating under 11,794 kilograms; or

(f) an ambulance, a cardiac arrest emergency vehicle, or a fire apparatus. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(2) For the purposes of clauses (1) (d) and (e), the date that a commercial motor vehicle was manufactured and its manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating shall be deemed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to be,

(a) the date and weight on the commercial motor vehicle’s compliance label; or

(b) where a commercial motor vehicle does not have a compliance label affixed or the label is illegible, a document from the vehicle’s manufacturer that is carried by the driver and that references the vehicle’s vehicle identification number and indicates its year of manufacture and gross vehicle weight rating. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(3) A commercial motor vehicle is exempt from subsection 68.1 (1) of the Act if,

(a) it is not equipped with an electronic control module capable of being programmed to limit vehicle speed;

(b) it is engaged in providing relief in an emergency, being a situation or impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions to life, property or the environment, whether caused by forces of nature, an accident, an intentional act or otherwise; or

(c) it is operated by or on behalf of a municipality, road authority, public utility or of the government of Ontario or of Canada while responding to a situation or impending situation that constitutes an imminent danger, though not one of major proportions, to life, property or the environment, whether caused by forces of nature, an accident, an intentional act or otherwise. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(4) A driver of a commercial motor vehicle is exempt from subsection 68.1 (1) of the Act if the vehicle is leased for 30 days or less by an individual for the transportation of the goods kept for the individual’s personal use. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

14. (1) The speed-limiting system of a commercial motor vehicle shall be properly set at a maximum speed of 105 kilometres per hour. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(2) A speed-limiting system is properly set for the purposes of subsection (1) if it prevents a driver, by means of accelerator application, from accelerating to or maintaining a speed greater than permitted under subsection (1). O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(3) The maximum speed under subsection (1) shall be set by means of the electronic control module that limits the feed of fuel to the engine. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(4) A commercial motor vehicle is exempt from subsection (3) if it is equipped with an equally effective system, not dependent on the electronic control module, that allows limitation of vehicle speed, remotely or not, but does not allow the driver to deactivate or modify the system in Ontario so that it does not comply with subsections (1) and (2). O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

15. (1) A speed-limiting system shall be in good working order. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), all aspects of a commercial motor vehicle’s computer system or systems, computer programs, components, equipment and connections that are capable of playing a role in preventing a driver from increasing the speed of a commercial motor vehicle beyond a specified value shall be in good working order. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

16. A commercial motor vehicle’s electronic control module shall contain information that accurately corresponds with any component or feature of the vehicle referred to in the module, including information regarding the tire rolling radius, axle gear ratio and transmission gear ratio. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

17. The prescribed speed for the purposes of subsection 68.1 (9) of the Act is 115 kilometres per hour. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

18. The following devices are prescribed for the purposes of clause 68.1 (3) (a) of the Act:

1. A device that causes inaccurate information to be transmitted to the electronic control module about a commercial motor vehicle’s actual speed.

2. A device that causes inaccurate information to be sent to the electronic control module about the revolutions per minute of the engine. O. Reg. 396/08, s. 1.

Bus Equipment

19. (1) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall operate a bus or cause or permit a bus to be operated, unless the bus has,

(a) at least two doors or exits; or

(b) at least three push-out windows on each side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, each of which,

(i) has a minimum height of twenty inches and a minimum width of thirty inches,

(ii) is designed, constructed and maintained to open outwards when a reasonable amount of manual force is applied to the inside of the window, and

(iii) displays on or adjacent to the window adequate directions for its emergency use. O. Reg. 414/21, s. 1.

(2) One of the doors or exits required by clause (1) (a) shall be,

(a) for use only in an emergency; and

(b) located at the rear of the vehicle or near the rear on the left side of the vehicle. O. Reg. 414/21, s. 1.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of,

(a) an accessible vehicle as defined in subsection 1 (1) of Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Accessible Vehicles) made under the Act;

(b) a bus used to transport prisoners or other persons held in custody; or

(i) has all the doors, exits and windows with which the vehicle was equipped at time of manufacture,

(ii) displays a label containing a national safety mark, verifying compliance with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) at the time of its manufacture, or other label verifying compliance with a comparable standard of the Government of the United States,

(iii) has not been modified, including by the addition of luggage racks, after-market storage units, or partitions, and

(iv) does not have a body on chassis frame construction. O. Reg. 414/21, s. 1.

20. No person shall operate a bus or cause or permit a bus to be operated unless it is equipped with one or more lights within the vehicle that are arranged to provide adequate lighting for the whole of the interior of the vehicle. O. Reg. 414/21, s. 1.

Note: On January 1, 2023, the Regulation is amended by adding the following section: (See: O. Reg. 420/22, s. 1)

Tow Trucks

21. (1) In this section,

“tow truck” means a tow truck within the meaning of section 4 of Ontario Regulation 419/15 (Definitions of Commercial Motor Vehicle and Tow Truck) made under the Act. O. Reg. 420/22, s. 1.

(2) A person who drives a tow truck and a person who causes or permits the operation of a tow truck shall ensure that,

(a) the tow truck is equipped with a lamp that,

(i) is capable of producing intermittent flashes of amber light, and

(ii) is used during the time that the tow truck is stopped on a highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle;

(b) the tow truck is equipped with either flares, lamps or lanterns capable of continuously producing two warning lights or portable reflectors, the light from each of which are visible from a distance of at least 150 metres;

(c) during the time that the tow truck is stopped on a highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle, adequate measures are taken to ensure that the tow truck, the motor vehicle and the driver of the tow truck are visible to other drivers;

(d) during the time that the tow truck is stopped on a highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle and the driver of the truck is outside of the truck, the driver wears apparel that meets the requirements for Class 2 or 3 in Standard Z96-15 (R2020), entitled “High-visibility safety apparel”, published by the Canadian Standards Association, as amended from time to time;

(e) at any time that the tow truck is used to tow a motor vehicle,

(i) all equipment, components and devices used to tow the motor vehicle are in good working order,

(ii) the load on any boom, hook, hoist, pulley, stinger, sling, belt, fork or other similar device used to elevate part of the motor vehicle does not exceed any working load limit or weight rating set by the manufacturer of the device,

(iii) if the equipment used to tow the motor vehicle includes a chain or strap,

(A) the chain or strap has been marked by the manufacturer with a working load limit that remains visible on the chain or strap, and

(B) the load on the chain or strap does not exceed its working load limit, and

(iv) if the tow truck tows a motor vehicle by elevating the motor vehicle with the use of a dolly, cradle or other similar device, the motor vehicle is secured to the dolly, cradle or other similar device in a manner that prevents the motor vehicle from shifting its direction in relation to the device or from falling or detaching from the device. O. Reg. 420/22, s. 1.

(3) A person who causes or permits the operation of a tow truck shall ensure that at any time that a tow truck is stopped on a highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle and a person assisting the driver of the truck is outside of the truck, the person wears apparel that meets the requirements described in clause (2) (d). O. Reg. 420/22, s. 1.

Schedule 1
Clamp Type Brake Chamber

Column 1 Service Brake Chambers Type — Outside Diameter	Column 2 Push Rod Travel
6 — 4½" (114.3 mm)	1¼" (31.75 mm)
9 — 5¼" (133.35 mm)	1³/₈" (34.93 mm)
12 — 5¹¹/₁₆" (144.46 mm)	1³/₈" (34.93 mm)
12 Long Stroke — 5¹¹/₁₆" (144.46 mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
16 — 6^3/₈" (161.93 mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
16 Long Stroke — 6³/₈" (161.93 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
20 — 6²⁵/₃₂" (172.24 mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
20 Long Stroke — 6²⁵/₃₂" (172.24 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
24 — 7⁷/₃₂" (183.36mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
24 Long Stroke — 7⁷/₃₂" (183.36 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
24 Long Stroke with Square Inlet Port or with Square Raised Embossment on Lid — 7⁷/₃₂" (183.36 mm)	2½" (63.5 mm)
30 — 8 ³/₃₂" (205.58 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
30 Long Stroke with Square Inlet Port or with Square Raised Embossment on Lid — 8 ³/₃₂" (205.58 mm)	2½" (63.5 mm)
36 — 9" (228.6 mm)	2¼" (57.15mm)

O. Reg. 376/17, s. 2.

Schedule 2
Bolt Type Chamber

Column 1 Service Brake Chambers Type — Outside Diameter	Column 2 Push Rod Travel
A — 6¹⁵/₁₆" (176.21 mm)	1³/₈" (34.93 mm)
B — 9³/₁₆" (233.36 mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
C — 8¹/₁₆" (204.79 mm)	1¾" (44.45 mm)
D — 5¼" (133.35 mm)	1¼" (31.75 mm)
E — 6³/₁₆" (157.16 mm)	1³/₈" (34.93 mm)
F — 11" (279.4 mm)	2¼" (57.15 mm)
G — 9⁷/₈" (250.83 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)

O. Reg. 376/17, s. 2.

Schedule 3
Rotochamber Type Chamber

Column 1 Service Brake Chambers Type — Outside Diameter	Column 2 Push Rod Travel
9 — 4⁹/₃₂" (108.74 mm)	1½" (38.1 mm)
12 — 4¹³/₁₆" (122.23 mm)	1½" (38.1 mm)
16 — 5¹³/₃₂" (137.32 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
20 — 5¹⁵/₁₆" (150.81 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
24 — 6¹³/₃₂" (162.72 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
30 — 7¹/₁₆" (179.39 mm)	2¼" (57.15 mm)
36 — 7⁵/₈" (193.68 mm)	2¾" (69.85 mm)
50 — 8⁷/₈" (225.43 mm)	3" (76.2 mm)

O. Reg. 376/17, s. 2.

Schedule 4
Tie Rod Piston Type Chamber

Column 1 Service Brake Chambers Type — Outside Diameter	Column 2 Push Rod Travel
30 Long Stroke with Square Inlet Port — 6½" (165.1 mm)	2½" (63.5 mm)

O. Reg. 376/17, s. 2.

Schedule 5
DD-3 Type Chamber

Column 1 Service Brake Chambers Type — Outside Diameter	Column 2 Push Rod Travel
30 — 8¹/₈" (206.37 mm)	2¼" (57.15 mm)

O. Reg. 376/17, s. 2.