HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2170        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3505

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Daniel J. Hunt

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to protect vulnerable road users by requiring certain vehicles to be equipped with side under-ride guards and blind spot mirrors.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2170        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3505

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3058 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act to protect vulnerable road users by requiring certain vehicles to be equipped with side under-ride guards and blind spot mirrors.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Bus or motor bus” the following definition:-

“Convex mirror,” a mirror on the front of a vehicle which enables the operator to see all points on an imaginary horizontal line which is 3 feet above the road and is 1 foot directly forward from the midpoint of the front of the motor vehicle and extends the full width of the motor vehicle. 

SECTION 2: Said section 1 is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “Killed in action,” the following definition:-

“Lateral protective device,” an apparatus installed between the front and rear wheels to help prevent injuries to unprotected road users, particularly from falling underneath the vehicle. 

SECTION 3.  Section 7 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following paragraph:-

Except in the case of an ambulance, fire apparatus, low-speed vehicle, or tractor, every Class 3 and above motor vehicle, which has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds and higher having a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds, and every trailer having an unladen weight of more than 10,000 pounds, and every semi-trailer unit having a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds, and every conventional cab configuration in which more than half of the engine length is forward of the foremost point of the windshield base and the steering wheel hub is in the forward quarter of the vehicle length operated in or upon any way shall be equipped with a lateral protective device and a convex mirror, as defined by section 1 of chapter 90 of the General Laws.  The registrar shall adopt standards and specifications for the size, design, and mounting of lateral protective devices and convex mirrors, in a manner consistent with the Volpe side guard specifications, Recommended Standard DOT-VNTSC-OSTR-16-05.  The registrar may provide alternative means of compliance with the convex mirror requirement, including cameras and infrared devices.  The Registrar shall also determine a phased-in schedule for compliance with this paragraph, provided, however, that such phase-in shall begin no later than July 1, 2022.

SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect upon passage, provided, however, that the deadlines for compliance with this act shall be established pursuant to section 3.