---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-53. Performance ability of brakes.
collection: code
id: 40-8-53
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-53 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-53
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-53.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-53/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=97c394d6_0#page=500
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / EQUIPMENT AND INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES / EQUIPMENT GENERALLY / BRAKES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-8-53. Performance ability of brakes.

(a) Except as provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section, every motor vehicle or combination of motor drawn vehicles shall be capable at all times and under all conditions of loading of being stopped on a dry, smooth, level road free from loose material, upon application of the service (foot) brake within the distances specified in this Code section or shall be capable of being decelerated at a sustained rate corresponding to these distances.

Feet to Stop

From 20 Miles Deceleration in

Per Hour Feet Per Second Vehicles or 30 14

combinations of

vehicles having

brakes on all

wheels

Vehicles or 40 10.7

combinations of

vehicles not having

brakes on all

wheels

(b) The brake performance ability for commercial motor vehicles shall be as provided for in the federal motor carrier safety regulations contained in 49 C.F.R. 393.52 and adopted by the commissioner of public safety pursuant to Code Section 40-1-8. Commercial motor vehicles shall be capable at all times and under all conditions of loading of being stopped on a dry, smooth, level road free from loose material upon application of the service (foot) brake within the distances specified in those rules.

## History

Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 115; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 40; Code 1933, § 68E-304, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 4; Code 1981, § 40-8-53, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 10; Ga. L. 1994, p. 97, § 40; Ga. L. 2011, p. 479, § 14/HB 112.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1985, ‘‘motor drawn’’ was substituted for ‘‘motor-drawn’’ (now in subsection (a)).