(a) Lateral Protective Devices. Large vehicles must be constructed or equipped in such a way as to offer, throughout their length, effective protection to unprotected road users against the risk of falling under the side of the vehicle and being caught under the wheels. This requirement will be considered satisfied either
1. If the vehicle is equipped with a special lateral protective device (side under-ride guard) in accordance with the requirements of Section 4-8.5b
2. If the vehicle is so designed and/or equipped at the side that, by virtue of their shape and characteristics, its component parts can be incorporated and/or regarded as replacing the lateral protective device. Components whose combined function satisfies the requirements set out in Section 4-8.5b below are considered to form a lateral protective device.
(b) Technical Specifications. The lateral protective device can use horizontal rails or a continuous flat surface that meets the following dimensional requirements:
1. The lower edge of the lateral protective device shall at no point be more than twenty-one and one-half (21.5) inches above the ground
2. The upper edge of the lateral protective device shall not be more than fourteen (14) inches below that part of the structure of the vehicle, cut or contracted by a vertical plane tangential to the outer surface of the tires, excluding any bulging close to the ground
3. Not more than twelve (12) inches to the rear of the vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle and tangential to the outer surface of the tire on the wheel immediately forward of the guard
4. The rearward edge of the lateral protective device shall not be more than twelve (12) inches forward of the vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle and tangential to the outer surface of the tire on the wheel immediately to the rear
5. The lateral protective device shall not increase the overall width of the large vehicle and the main part of its outer surface shall not be more than five (5) inches inboard from the outermost plane (maximum width) of the vehicle.
6. Every lateral protective device shall be essentially rigid and securely mounted. They shall not be liable to loosening due to vibration in normal use of the vehicle. The lateral protective device shall be considered suitable if it is capable of withstanding a force of four hundred forty (440) pounds applied perpendicularly to any part of its surface by the center of a ram the face of which is circular and not more than eight and one-half (8.5) inches in diameter, and during such application
7. No part of the side under-ride guard shall be deflected by more than six (6) inches; and,
8. No part of the side under-ride guard which is less than ten (10) inches from its rearmost part shall be deflected by more than one and one-quarter (1.25) inches.
(c) Convex Mirrors. Large vehicles must be equipped with convex mirrors to enable the operator of the large vehicle to see all points on an imaginary horizontal line which:
1. Is three (3) feet above the road;
2. Is one (1) foot directly forward from the midpoint upon the longitudinal axis of the front of such large vehicle; and extends the full width of such large vehicle
(d) Cross-Over Mirrors. Large vehicles must be equipped with convex cross-over mirror on the front of the vehicle to enable the operator of the large vehicle with a conventional cab configuration in which at least more than half (1/2) of the engine length is forward of the foremost point of the windshield base and the steering wheel hub is in the forward quarter (1/4) of the vehicle length to allow the driver to see:
1. Any person or object at least three (3) feet tall passing in front of the vehicle.
2. The area from the front bumper to where direct vision is possible.
(e) Safety Decals. Large vehicles must be equipped with a minimum of three (3) safety decals on the rear and sides that warn pedestrians and cyclists of blind spots:
1. Decals should be ‘safety yellow’ in color
2. Decals should include language or images warning of the blind spot locations on the vehicle.
3. Decals should be placed, when possible, on or near the lateral protection devices.
(Ord. 2014 c. 14)