[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR392.22]

[Page 1029-1030]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
        CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 392--DRIVING OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart C--Stopped Commercial Motor Vehicles
 
Sec. 392.22  Emergency signals; stopped commercial motor vehicles.

    (a) Hazard warning signal flashers. Whenever a commercial motor 
vehicle is stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the 
shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, 
the driver of the stopped commercial motor vehicle shall immediately 
activate the vehicular hazard warning signal flashers and continue the 
flashing until the driver places the warning devices required by 
paragraph (b) of this section. The flashing signals shall be used during 
the time the warning devices are picked up for storage before movement 
of the commercial motor vehicle. The flashing lights may be used at 
other times while a commercial motor vehicle is stopped in addition to, 
but not in lieu of, the warning devices required by paragraph (b) of 
this section.
    (b) Placement of warning devices--(1) General rule. Except as 
provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, whenever a commercial 
motor vehicle is stopped upon the traveled portion or the shoulder of a 
highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver 
shall, as soon as possible, but in any event within 10 minutes, place 
the warning devices required by Sec. 393.95 of this subchapter, in the 
following manner:
    (i) One on the traffic side of and 4 paces (approximately 3 meters 
or 10 feet) from the stopped commercial motor vehicle in the direction 
of approaching traffic;
    (ii) One at 40 paces (approximately 30 meters or 100 feet) from the 
stopped commercial motor vehicle in the center of the traffic lane or 
shoulder occupied by the commercial motor vehicle and in the direction 
of approaching traffic; and
    (iii) One at 40 paces (approximately 30 meters or 100 feet) from the 
stopped commercial motor vehicle in the center of the traffic lane or 
shoulder occupied by the commercial motor vehicle and in the direction 
away from approaching traffic.
    (2) Special rules--(i) Fusees and liquid-burning flares. The driver 
of a commercial motor vehicle equipped with only fusees or liquid-
burning flares shall place a lighted fusee or liquid-burning flare at 
each of the locations specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. 
There shall be at least one lighted fusee or liquid-burning flare at 
each of the prescribed locations, as long as the commercial motor 
vehicle is stopped. Before the stopped commercial motor

[[Page 1030]]

vehicle is moved, the driver shall extinguish and remove each fusee or 
liquid-burning flare.
    (ii) Daylight hours. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of 
this section, during the period lighted lamps are not required, three 
bidirectional reflective triangles, or three lighted fusees or liquid-
burning flares shall be placed as specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section within a time of 10 minutes. In the event the driver elects to 
use only fusees or liquid-burning flares in lieu of bidirectional 
reflective triangles or red flags, the driver must ensure that at least 
one fusee or liquid-burning flare remains lighted at each of the 
prescribed locations as long as the commercial motor vehicle is stopped 
or parked.
    (iii) Business or residential districts. The placement of warning 
devices is not required within the business or residential district of a 
municipality, except during the time lighted lamps are required and when 
street or highway lighting is insufficient to make a commercial motor 
vehicle clearly discernable at a distance of 500 feet to persons on the 
highway.
    (iv) Hills, curves, and obstructions. If a commercial motor vehicle 
is stopped within 500 feet of a curve, crest of a hill, or other 
obstruction to view, the driver shall place the warning signal required 
by paragraph (b)(1) of this section in the direction of the obstruction 
to view a distance of 100 feet to 500 feet from the stopped commercial 
motor vehicle so as to afford ample warning to other users of the 
highway.
    (v) Divided or one-way roads. If a commercial motor vehicle is 
stopped upon the traveled portion or the shoulder of a divided or one-
way highway, the driver shall place the warning devices required by 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, one warning device at a distance of 
200 feet and one warning device at a distance of 100 feet in a direction 
toward approaching traffic in the center of the lane or shoulder 
occupied by the commercial motor vehicle. He/she shall place one warning 
device at the traffic side of the commercial motor vehicle within 10 
feet of the rear of the commercial motor vehicle.
    (vi) Leaking, flammable material. If gasoline or any other flammable 
liquid, or combustible liquid or gas seeps or leaks from a fuel 
container or a commercial motor vehicle stopped upon a highway, no 
emergency warning signal producing a flame shall be lighted or placed 
except at such a distance from any such liquid or gas as will assure the 
prevention of a fire or explosion.

[37 FR 17175, Aug. 25, 1972, as amended at 40 FR 10685, Mar. 7, 1975; 47 
FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 48 FR 57139, Dec. 23, 1983; 59 FR 34711, July 
6, 1994; 60 FR 38747, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33279, June 18, 1998]