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Trailer Couplings and Other Safety Devices Regulations

made under

Section 200 of the

Motor Vehicle Act

R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293

O.I.C. 73-1027 (October 2, 1973), N.S. Reg. 86/73

1 In this [these] regulation[s]

(a) "fifth wheel assembly" means a coupling device having its lower half

mounted on the rear portion of a vehicle frame or the frame of a trailer

converter dolly and its upperhalf fastened to the underside of the

forward portion of a semi-trailer for the purpose of supporting and

towing the semi-trailer;

(b) "trailer" means a vehicle without motive power designed to carry

property or passengers wholly on its own structure and to be drawn by a

motor vehicle and includes self-contained commercial units, such as

compressors, generators, welders, recreational vehicles or other utility

equipment designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle;

(c) "semi-trailer" means a vehicle of the trailer type so designed and used in

conjunction with a motor vehicle that some part of its own weight and

that of its own load rests upon or is carried by the towing vehicle;

(d) "tow bar" means a towing structure that is connected to a semi-trailer,

trailer or converter and which includes an eye or equivalent device for

the purpose of coupling with a trailer hitch;

(e) "trailer converter dolly" means a device consisting of one or more axles,

a fifth wheel and a tow bar used to convert a semi-trailer into a trailer;

(f) "breakaway switch" means an automatic device that applies the trailer

brakes should the trailer disconnect from the towing vehicle;

(g) "trailer hitch" means a coupling device mounted on the rear of a vehicle

or trailer to which a tow bar may be attached for the purpose of towing a

trailer.

2 Where a vehicle and one or more trailers are operated in combination, the coupling

devices connecting the vehicle and trailer or trailers shall be so designed,

constructed and installed that when they are operated in combination in a straight

line on a level, smooth, paved surface, the path of the trailer or trailers does not

deviate more than three inches to either side of the path of the towing vehicle.

(1) The fifth wheel assembly on the towing vehicle or trailer converter dolly

shall be attached with a mounting that

(

a) has

(

i) brackets, mounting plates or angles, and

(ii) bolts or equivalent devices,

which together will withstand a force, applied at the coupling point of

the fifth wheel assembly, equivalent to the gross weight of the trailer or

trailers being towed without residual deformation to the mounting parts;

(

b) is installed so that the frame or point of attachment is not deformed;

(

c) is installed so as to prevent shifting of the lower half of the fifth wheel

assembly on the frame or point of attachment.

(2) The upper half of a fifth wheel assembly shall be attached to the underside of

the semi-trailer so as to prevent

(

a) warping or cracking of the assembly or the underside of the semi-trailer;

(

b) separation from the semi-trailer.

(3) A fifth wheel assembly shall be equipped with a locking device that prevents

separation of its upper half from its lower half.

(4) Where a fifth wheel assembly includes a manual release system, the fifth

wheel assembly shall be equipped with a locking device of devices which

applies automatically on the coupling of the towing vehicle or trailer

converter dolly.

(5) The lower half of a fifth wheel assembly shall be so mounted that the load

distribution does not unduly interfere with the steering, braking or

maneuverability of the towing vehicle or trailer converter dolly.

(1) A trailer shall be equipped with a tow bar that is of sufficient strength to

withstand a force through its attachments equivalent to the gross weight of

the trailer or trailers being towed, without residual deformation to the tow

bar.

(2) Where a tow bar is used to tow a trailer it shall be connected to the trailer

with an attachment that

(

a) has a strength equal to or greater than that of the tow bar;

(

b) in the case of a hinged tow bar, has the minimum clearance necessary

for adequate articulation; and

(

c) is attached in the manner for which it was designed.

(3) Where a vehicle or trailer is equipped with a trailer hitch, the trailer hitch

shall

(

a) be of sufficient strength to withstand a force applied at the point to

which the tow bar is connected, equivalent to the gross weight of the

trailer or trailers being towed, without residual deformation to the trailer

hitch;

(

b) provide the minimum clearance necessary for adequate articulation in its

connection to the trailer being towed; and

(

c) be provided with a locking device to prevent accidental separation of

the vehicle or trailer from the trailer being towed.

(4) The attachment of a trailer hitch to the towing structure of a vehicle or trailer

shall have a strength that is equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch.

(5) A towing structure to which a trailer hitch is attached, shall have a strength

equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch.

(6) The attachment of a towing structure to a vehicle or trailer shall

(

a) be reinforced or braced to prevent distortion of the frame or point of

attachment of the vehicle or trailer; and

(

b) have a strength equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch.

(1) A trailer shall be coupled to the towing vehicle with a safety connecting

device that will prevent the trailer from breaking loose in the event the tow

bar fails or becomes disconnected.

(2) The safety connecting device referred to in subsection (1) shall

(

a) not be attached to any part of a trailer hitch that would render the safety

connecting device ineffective should the trailer hitch or its attachment to

the towing vehicle fail;

(

b) have the minimum slack necessary for adequate articulation;

(

c) have an ultimate strength not less than the gross weight of the trailer of

trailers being towed and where the safety connecting device consists of

two chains, two cables or two other links, each chain, cable or other link

and its attachments shall have an ultimate strength equal to the gross

weight of the trailer or trailers being towed;

(

d) be connected in such a manner so as to prevent the tow bar from

dropping to the ground, and to keep the swing of the trailer within safe

limits in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected;

(

e) be equipped with a hook or hooks or other means of attachment that

will not become disconnected accidentally;

(

f) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the

safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other

links, they shall be attached at two points as far apart as the

configuration of the axle or frame permits and equidistant from the

centerline of the combination of vehicles;

(

g) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the

safety connecting device consists of a single chain or single cable,

(

i) have its ends attached to the centerline of the combination of

vehicles,

(ii) lead along the tow bar;

(

h) where it is used in conjunction with a non-hinged tow bar,

(

i) consist of two chains, two cables or two other links attached to the

tow bar at a single point on the centerline of the tow bar or at two

points equidistant from the centerline of the tow bar such that the

attachment is behind the eye of the tow bar, or

(ii) consist of a single chain, cable or other link attached to the tow bar

on the centerline of the tow bar at any point behind the eye of the

tow bar;

(

i) where it consists of two chains, two cables or two other links attached at

separate points, the separate points shall be equidistant from the

centerline of the combination of vehicles;

(

j) where it consists of two chains, two cables or two other links attached to

the same point or where a bridle, single chain, single cable or other

single link is used, be attached to a point on the centerline of the

combination of vehicles.

6 A trailer with a gross weight of more than three thousand pounds shall be

equipped with a breakaway switch.

7 Where a trailer is in motion no person may use gas or oil appliances within the

trailer unless the trailer is equipped with an automatic safety valve that is capable

of shutting off the gas or oil if the flame is extinguished.

8 These regulations may be cited as the Trailer Couplings and Other Safety Devices

Regulations.