Article 8. Warning Lights And Devices of California Vehicle Code >> Division 12. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 8.
(a) Every vehicle which, if operated during darkness, would
be subject to the provisions of Section 25100, and every truck
tractor, irrespective of width, shall at all times be equipped with
at least three red emergency reflectors. The reflectors need be
carried by only one vehicle in a combination.
All reflectors shall be maintained in good working condition.
(b) When any such vehicle is disabled on the roadway during
darkness, reflectors of the type specified in subdivision (a) shall
be immediately placed as follows:
(1) One at the traffic side of the disabled vehicle, not more than
10 feet to the front or rear thereof;
(2) One at a distance of approximately 100 feet to the rear of the
disabled vehicle in the center of the traffic lane occupied by such
vehicle; and
(3) One at a distance of approximately 100 feet to the front of
the disabled vehicle in the center of the traffic lane occupied by
such vehicle.
(4) If disablement of any such vehicle occurs within 500 feet of a
curve, crest of a hill, or other obstruction to view, the driver
shall so place the reflectors in that direction as to afford ample
warning to other users of the highway, but in no case less than 100
nor more than 500 feet from the disabled vehicle.
(5) If disablement of the vehicle occurs upon any roadway of a
divided or one-way highway, the driver shall place one reflector at a
distance of approximately 200 feet and one such reflector at a
distance of approximately 100 feet to the rear of the vehicle in the
center of the lane occupied by the stopped vehicle, and one such
reflector at the traffic side of the vehicle not more than 10 feet to
the rear of the vehicle.
(c) When any such vehicle is disabled or parked off the roadway
but within 10 feet thereof during darkness, warning reflectors of the
type specified in subdivision (a) shall be immediately placed by the
driver as follows: one at a distance of approximately 200 feet and
one at a distance of approximately 100 feet to the rear of the
vehicle, and one at the traffic side of the vehicle not more than 10
feet to the rear of the vehicle. The reflectors shall, if possible,
be placed between the edge of the roadway and the vehicle, but in no
event less than two feet to the left of the widest portion of the
vehicle or load thereon.
(d) Until the reflectors required by this section can be placed
properly, the requirements of this section may be complied with
temporarily by either placing lighted red fusees in the required
locations or by use of turn signal lamps, but only if front turn
signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and rear
turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.
(e) The reflectors shall be displayed continuously during darkness
while the vehicle remains disabled upon the roadway or parked or
disabled within 10 feet thereof.
(f) Subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e) do not apply to a vehicle
under either of the following circumstances:
(1) Parked in a legal position within the corporate limits of any
city.
(2) Parked in a legal position upon a roadway bounded by adjacent
curbs.
(g) In addition to the reflectors specified in subdivision (a), an
emergency warning sign or banner may be attached to a vehicle which
is disabled upon the roadway or which is parked or disabled within 10
feet of a roadway.
When utility or public utility vehicles are parked, stopped
or standing at the site of work as described in Section 22512,
warning devices shall be displayed as follows:
(a) During daylight warning devices shall consist of either:
A warning flag or barricade striping on the front and rear of the
vehicle.
A warning flag, sign, or barrier on the highway not more than 50
feet in advance of the vehicle and not more than 50 feet to the rear
thereof, except that in zones where the speed limit is in excess of
25 miles per hour the 50-foot distance may be increased up to 500
feet from the vehicle as circumstances may warrant.
(b) During darkness the warning devices shall consist of either:
One or more flashing amber warning lights on the vehicle giving
warning to approaching traffic from each direction.
A warning light, flare, fusee, or reflector on the highway not
more than 50 feet in advance of the vehicle and not more than 50 feet
to the rear thereof, except that in zones where the speed limit is
in excess of 25 miles per hour the 50-foot distance may be increased
up to 500 feet from the vehicle where circumstances may warrant.
(c) The provisions of subdivision (a) or (b) do not prevent the
display of both types of the warning devices during daylight or
darkness.
(d) During either daylight or darkness, no warning device is
necessary if the vehicle is equipped with the flashing warning lights
visible to approaching traffic from each direction as provided in
subdivision (b).
(a) No person shall place, deposit, or display upon or
adjacent to any highway any lighted fusee, except as a warning to
approaching vehicular traffic or railroad trains, or both, of an
existing hazard upon or adjacent to the highway or highway-railroad
crossing.
(b) It is unlawful to use any fusee which produces other than a
red light. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to any
railroad, as defined in Section 229 of the Public Utilities Code.
(c) No person shall attach or permit any person to attach a
lighted fusee to any part of a vehicle.