CHAPTER 15. DISABLED VEHICLES
IC 9-21-15
Chapter 15. Disabled Vehicles
IC 9-21-15-1
Application of chapter
Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the following vehicles:
(1) A motor truck.
(2) A passenger bus.
(3) A truck tractor.
(4) A trailer.
(5) A semitrailer.
(6) A pole trailer.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-2
Traveled portion of highway or shoulder during time when lights
are required; warning devices; requirements
Sec. 2. Except as provided in section 6 of this chapter, whenever
a vehicle is disabled upon the traveled portion of a highway or the
shoulder of a highway outside of a municipality at a time when
lighted lamps are required on vehicles, the person who drives the
vehicle shall display the following warning devices upon the
highway during the time the vehicle is disabled on the highway:
(1) A lighted fusee, a lighted red electric lantern, or a portable
red emergency reflector must be immediately placed at the
traffic side of the vehicle in the direction of the nearest
approaching traffic.
(2) As soon as possible within the burning period of a fusee
(fifteen (15) minutes), the person shall place three (3)
liquid-burning flares (pot torches), three (3) lighted red electric
lanterns, or three (3) portable red emergency reflectors on the
traveled part of the highway in the following order:
(A) One (1) device approximately one hundred (100) feet
from the disabled vehicle in the center of the lane occupied
by the vehicle and toward traffic approaching in that lane.
(B) One (1) device approximately one hundred (100) feet in
the opposite direction from the disabled vehicle and in the
center of the traffic lane occupied by the vehicle.
(C) One (1) device at the traffic side of the disabled vehicle
not less than ten (10) feet behind and not more than ten (10)
feet in front of the vehicle in the direction of the nearest
approaching traffic. If a lighted red electric lantern or a red
portable emergency reflector has been placed at the traffic
side of the vehicle under subdivision (1), the lantern or
reflector may be used for this purpose.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-3
Vehicle within 500 feet of a curve, hillcrest, or other obstruction;
warning signals; requirements
Sec. 3. If a vehicle is disabled within five hundred (500) feet of a
curve, hillcrest, or other obstruction to view, the warning signal in
that direction shall be placed to afford ample warning to other users
of the highway. The warning signal may not be placed less than five
hundred (500) feet from the disabled vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-4
Divided highways during time when lights are required; warning
devices; requirements
Sec. 4. Whenever a vehicle is disabled upon a roadway of a
divided highway during the time that lights are required, the warning
devices prescribed in sections 2 and 6 of this chapter shall be placed
as follows:
(1) One (1) device at a distance of approximately two hundred
(200) feet from the vehicle in the center of the lane occupied by
the stopped vehicle and in the direction of traffic approaching
in that lane.
(2) One (1) device at a distance of approximately one hundred
(100) feet from the vehicle, in the center of the lane occupied by
the vehicle and in the direction of traffic approaching that lane.
(3) One (1) device at the traffic side of the vehicle and
approximately ten (10) feet from the vehicle in the direction of
the nearest approaching traffic.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-5
Traveled portion of highway or shoulder during time when lights
are not required; warning devices; requirements
Sec. 5. Whenever a vehicle is disabled upon the traveled part of
the highway or the shoulder of the highway outside of a municipality
at a time when the display of fusees, flares, red electric lanterns, or
portable red emergency reflectors is not required under this chapter,
the person who drives the vehicle shall display two (2) red flags upon
the roadway in the lane of traffic occupied by the disabled vehicle as
follows:
(1) One (1) flag at a distance of approximately one hundred
(100) feet in advance of the vehicle.
(2) One (1) flag at a distance of approximately one hundred
(100) feet to the rear of the vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-6
Vehicles used in transportation of flammable materials or vehicles
using such materials as fuel; warning devices; requirements;
prohibited devices
Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to the following:
(1) A motor vehicle used in the transportation of explosives.
(2) A cargo truck used for the transportation of a flammable
liquid or compressed flammable gas.
(3) A motor vehicle that uses compressed gas as a fuel.
(b) Whenever a motor vehicle is disabled upon a highway at a
time or place described in section 2 of this chapter, the person who
drives the vehicle shall immediately display the following warning
devices:
(1) One (1) red electric lantern or portable red emergency
reflector placed on the roadway at the traffic side of the vehicle.
(2) One (1) red electric lantern or portable red reflector placed
approximately one hundred (100) feet to the front and one (1)
placed approximately one hundred (100) feet to the rear of the
disabled vehicle in the center of the traffic lane occupied by the
vehicle.
(c) A flare, fusee, or signal produced by flame may not be used as
a warning device for a disabled vehicle under this section.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-7
Warning devices; rules and regulations; law governing
Sec. 7. A flare, fusee, red electric lantern, portable red emergency
reflector, and flag to be displayed under this chapter must conform
with the requirements of IC 9-19.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-15-8
Violations; Class C infraction
Sec. 8. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C
infraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.