Article 60

Trailer Braking

1. Subject to Article 61(1)(c) regarding the braking of vehicle combinations, trailers, except for light trailers, must be equipped with the following two (2) braking systems:

(a) a service brake capable of slowing the vehicle’s motion until it comes to a safe stop, quickly and effectively, regardless of its loading conditions and regardless of whether the road is uphill or downhill,

b) a parking brake capable of slowing the vehicle’s movement until it comes to a safe stop, quickly and effectively, so that the vehicle remains stationary regardless of its load conditions on a significant uphill or downhill slope. The friction surfaces of this wheel chock are held in the braking position by a device whose action is purely mechanical. This provision does not apply to trailers that cannot be detached from the towing vehicle without the use of tools, provided that the requirements of (a) of paragraph 1 of Article 61 regarding the parking brake of the vehicle combination is complied with.

2. The wheel-braking systems referred to in paragraph 1 may have common components, provided that they can be combined.

3. The force exerted by the wheel chock must be distributed appropriately among all the wheels of the trailer and synchronized across its various axles.

4. The parking brake must be engaged from the driver’s seat by operating the parking brake of the towing vehicle. The first paragraph does not apply to trailers with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to three thousand five hundred (3,500) kilograms, whose parking brake may be designed to engage automatically when the trailer moves toward the decelerating towing vehicle.

5. The service and parking brakes must act on braking surfaces that are firmly attached to the wheels by means of components of sufficient strength.

6. The parking brake must automatically immobilize the trailer in the event that it becomes detached. The first paragraph does not apply to single-axle trailers or, among double-axle trailers, those with an axle spacing of less than one (1) meter, provided that:

(a) their maximum permissible gross weight does not exceed one thousand five hundred (1,500) kilograms, and

(b) with the exception of semi-trailers, are equipped, in addition to the main coupling device, with a secondary coupling device, which, in the event of failure of the primary coupling device, prevents the trailer’s drawbar from falling to the ground and ensures that towing can continue safely.

7. Violations committed by a person who puts into service, as well as by a person who drives a vehicle towing a trailer as described in paragraphs 1 through 6 that is not equipped with a braking system that operates in accordance with this provision are classified in category E2-B.