Chap. 0234 An Act relative to the use of flares at locations on ways where certain vehicles are disabled.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows:
Section 1. The first paragraph of section 14B of chapter 85 of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 375 of the acts of 1946, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the words "which is not artificially lighted at night", - so as to read as follows: - Whenever any commercial vehicle having a gross weight in excess of five thousand pounds other than a motor bus or taxicab, or any automobile service truck, so called, becomes disabled upon the traveled portion of any street or highway the operator of such vehicle shall, during the time when lights are required to be displayed on motor vehicles, place three flares on the traveled part of the way in the following positions: - one flare in the center of the traffic lane in which such disabled vehicle remains and distant approximately one hundred feet from such vehicle in the direction of traffic approaching in that lane; one flare not less than one hundred feet from such vehicle in the opposite direction in said lane; and one flare at the traffic side of such vehicle, not nearer than ten feet from the front or rear of such vehicle; provided, that if such vehicle is disabled within three hundred feet of
g. l. (Ter. Ed.). 85, § 14b, etc.. amended.
Flares to be placed where certain motor vehicles are disabled.
a curve, crest of a hill, or other place where the view of such vehicle is obstructed, the flare in that direction shall be so placed as to afford ample warning to other persons using such way, and in no case less than one hundred feet, nor more than three hundred feet, from the disabled vehicle. The word "flare" as used in this section shall mean either a lighted pot torch, a lighted red electric lamp, or a red emergency reflector warning device, which conforms to the requirements of the specifications adopted by the Interstate Commerce Commission for the construction and performance of such devices and bears the label of the Underwriters' Laboratory, Inc.
Section 2. The second paragraph of said section 14B, as appearing in chapter 432 of the acts of 1938, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the words "not artificially lighted at night", - so as to read as follows: -
Every vehicle to which this section applies, when operated on any street or highway shall, during the period when lights are required to be displayed on motor vehicles, carry three flares in a position where they are easily accessible to any person desiring to use the same and to any officer or official authorized to inspect said vehicle.
Approved April 6, 1958.