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Transport Canada
Disclaimer: These documents are not the official versions (more).

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT

Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations

Standard 101



PART II

Location and Identification of Controls and Displays

101. (1) The following controls and components, where fitted on a vehicle, shall be fitted in such a manner that they are operable by the driver while the driver is seated in the driver's designated seating position with the driver's seat belt fastened around the driver in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions:

(a) the accelerator;

(b) the automatic vehicle speed system;

(c) the choke, if manually operated;

(d) the clutch pedal;

(e) the driver's sun visor;

(f) the engine start control;

(g) the engine stop control;

(h) the hand throttle;

(i) the hazard warning switch;

(j) the headlamp upper or lower beam switch;

(k) the horn;

(l) the ignition switch;

(m) the illumination intensity control;

(n) the master lighting switch;

(o) the parking brake pedal or lever;

(p) the rear window defog and defrost control;

(q) the service brake pedal or lever;

(r) the steering wheel;

(s) the transmission control, except for the transfer case;

(t) the turn signal control;

(u) the windshield defog and defrost system control;

(v) the windshield washing system control;

(w) the windshield wiping system control;

(x) the clearance lamps switch; and

(y) the identification lamps switch.

(2) Where fitted on a vehicle, the displays for the following functions and malfunctions shall be fitted in such a manner that they are identifiable by the driver while the driver is seated in the driver's designated seating position with the driver's seat belt fastened around the driver in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions:

(a) the headlamp upper beam;

(b) the turn signals;

(c) the hazard warning signal;

(d) a seat belt;

(e) the fuel level;

(f) the engine oil pressure;

(g) the engine coolant temperature;

(h) the battery charging condition;

(i) a brake system malfunction;

(j) an air brake low pressure;

(k) an antilock brake system malfunction;

(l) a variable brake proportioning system malfunction;

(m) the parking brake applied;

(n) a low brake fluid condition;

(o) a gross loss of brake pressure condition;

(p) a brake lining wear-out condition;

(q) the transmission control position;

(r) the speedometer; and

(s) the odometer.

(3) An identification that is recognizable by the driver in daylight, that is located on or adjacent to the relevant manual control and that appears to be upright when the control is in the off position shall be provided for

(a) each function of or, where a quantitative range is used, the extreme positions of

(i) the heating and air-conditioning system controls, and

(ii) the automatic vehicle speed control;

(b) the engine start control, if separate from the key-locking system;

(c) the engine stop control, if separate from the key-locking system;

(d) the hand throttle;

(e) the identification lamp and clearance lamp switches, if separate from the master lighting switch; and

(f) the choke, if manually operated.

(4) Where colour coding is used to identify the extreme positions of heating and air-conditioning system controls, the hot extreme shall be identified by the colour red and the cold extreme shall be identified by the colour blue.

(5) An identification, similar to the corresponding identification symbol in Table I to this section, that is recognizable by the driver in daylight, that is located on or adjacent to the relevant hand-operated control and that appears to be upright when the control is in the off position shall be provided for

(a) the clearance lamps, identification lamps and side marker lamps switch, if separate from the master lighting switch;

(b) the hazard warning system;

(c) the headlamp upper and lower beams, except where operated by a control located on the left side of the steering column adjacent to the steering wheel;

(d) the horn, except where activated by a lanyard;

(e) the master lighting switch;

(f) the rear window defog and defrost system;

(g) the turn signal, except where its control is located on the left side of the steering column, adjacent to the steering wheel, in a plane essentially parallel to the steering wheel face plane;

(h) the fan for the heating and ventilation systems;

(i) the windshield defog and defrost system;

(j) the windshield washing system, if manually operated;

(k) the windshield wiping and washing system, if combined; and

(l) the windshield wiping system.

(6) Notwithstanding subsections (3) and (5), the requirement that the identification appear to be upright does not apply

(a) to a horn control that is located on a steering wheel or to a control that adjusts by means of a rotary motion and does not have an off position; or

(b) to an automatic vehicle speed control located on the steering wheel, or on the steering wheel hub or spokes, when the vehicle, aligned to the manufacturer's specifications, has the steering wheel positioned for the vehicle to travel in a direction other than straight forward.

(7) The identification in respect of each of the controls for the systems referred to in paragraphs (3)(a), (c) and (e) and (5)(a) to (c) and (f) to (l), other than an identification symbol in respect of a foot control, of a hand control that is mounted on the steering column, on the floor, on the floor console or in the windshield header area, or of a control for an air-conditioning and heating system that does not direct air directly onto the windshield, shall

(a) be illuminated whenever the headlamps are activated; and

(b) when illuminated, emit light at one of at least two levels of intensity, one of which is so low as to be barely discernible to a driver whose eyes have adapted to dark ambient road conditions.

(8) When the headlamps are being flashed or operated as daytime running lamps at a reduced light intensity, it is not necessary to illuminate the controls for the systems referred to in subsection (7).

(9) Subject to subsections (10) to (12), the following displays, where fitted on a vehicle with a GVWR of 4 536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less, shall be accompanied by an identification similar to the identification for that display shown in Table II to this section, in a position that appears to be upright, on or adjacent to the display it identifies:

(a) the headlamp upper beam tell-tale;

(b) the turn signal tell-tale;

(c) the hazard warning tell-tale;

(d) the seat belt tell-tale;

(e) the fuel level indicator or tell-tale;

(f) the engine oil pressure indicator or tell-tale;

(g) the engine coolant temperature indicator or tell-tale;

(h) the battery charging condition indicator or tell-tale;

(i) the brake system malfunction tell-tale;

(j) the antilock brake system malfunction tell-tale;

(k) the speedometer; and

(l) the odometer.

(9.1) Where fitted on a passenger car or three-wheeled vehicle, the following displays, a description of which is given in section 135 of this Schedule and in TSD 135, mentioned in that section, shall be in the colour specified in Table II to this section:

(a) the variable brake proportioning system malfunction;

(b) the parking brake applied;

(c) the low brake fluid condition;

(d) the gross loss of brake pressure condition; and

(e) the brake lining wear-out condition.

(10) The indicators referred to in paragraphs (9)(e) to (h), (k) and (l) and the indicator for the automatic transmission control position shall

(a) be illuminated whenever the headlamps are activated; and

(b) when illuminated, emit light at one of at least two levels of intensity, one of which is so low as to be barely discernible to a driver whose eyes have adapted to dark ambient road conditions.

(11) When the headlamps are being flashed or operated as daytime running lamps, it is not necessary for the indicators referred to in subsection (10) to be illuminated.

(12) Where tell-tales are fitted with the corresponding indicators referred to in any of paragraphs (9)(e) to (h), the identification required by subsection (9) may be omitted from the tell-tale.

(13) A tell-tale, while activated,

(a) shall, where a colour is specified for that tell-tale in Table II to this section, be of that colour;

(b) shall be of a colour that contrasts with its background;

(c) in the case of a tell-tale that identifies the headlamp upper beam, the turn signal, the hazard warning signal, the seat belt or a brake system malfunction, shall not be adjustable to a level that makes it invisible under any lighting condition; and

(d) shall be identifiable by the driver under all lighting conditions.

(14) Except as provided in subsection (20), no tell-tale shall emit light except

(a) while identifying a malfunction or vehicle condition that it is designed to identify; or

(b) during a bulb check conducted when the engine is turned on.

(15) Notwithstanding subsections (13) and (14), if the headlamp upper beam tell-tale is illuminated when the upper beam headlamps are operated as daytime running lamps at reduced voltage, the headlamp upper beam tell-tale shall emit light of an intensity that is discernibly lower than the intensity of the light emitted when the upper beam headlamps are operated at regular voltage, except that the headlamp upper beam tell-tale may flash at full intensity in the event of a malfunction of the daytime running lamps.

(16) Illumination that is provided in the driver's compartment of a vehicle and that is not subject to subsection (7), (10) or (13) shall

(a) have a means of being turned off;

(b) be manually or automatically adjustable to provide at least two levels of brightness; or

(c) be of an intensity such that it is barely discernible to a driver whose eyes have adapted to dark ambient roadway conditions.

(17) Speedometers shall be calibrated in kilometres per hour.

(18) Odometers and trip record counters shall be calibrated in kilometres.

(18.1) Notwithstanding subsection (18), the odometer and trip record counter may be calibrated in miles if a label is applied in the vicinity of the odometer stating that the vehicle odometer reads in miles.

(19) In addition to the identification required by subsections (5) and (9), a manufacturer may use the symbols that are included in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Standard ISO 2575, entitled Road Vehicles - Symbols for controls, indicators and tell-tales, 4th edition, 1982.

(20) A tell-tale or indicator listed in Table II to this section shall be activated

(a) at the beginning of the vehicle's operating condition to which it relates; or

(b) in the case of a seat belt tell-tale, as required by section 208 of this schedule.

                                                                               
                                      

TABLE I  

Symbols for Identifying Controls

  TABLEAU I

Symboles d'identification des commandes

Control

Identification

Commande

Clearance lamps, identification lamps and side marker lamps

Feux de gabarit, feux d'identification et feux de position latéraux

Master lighting switch

Commutateur général d'éclairage

Headlamp upper and lower beams

Faisceaux-route et faisceaux-croisement des projecteurs

Turn signals

Clignotants

Hazard warning signal

Signal des feux d'avertissement

Windshield wiper

Essuie-glace de pare-brise

Windshield washer

Lave-glace de pare-brise

Windshield wiper and washer

Essuie-glace et lave-glace de pare-brise combinés

Heating and air conditioning fan

Ventilateur du système de chauffage et de climatisation

Windscreen defogging and defrosting

Dégivrage et désembuage du pare-brise

Rear window defogging and defrosting

Dégivrage et désembuage de la lunette arrière

Horn

Avertisseur sonore

1. Framed areas of the symbol may be solid.

2. Outline may be used alone.

3. Symbol not required if function is combined with master lighting switch.

 

1. La partie encadrée du symbole peut-être pleine.

2. Il est permis d'utiliser seulement le contour.

3. Le symbole n'est pas nécessaire si la commande est couplée au commutateur général d'éclairage.

 

TABLE II

IDENTIFICATION OF DISPLAYS

 

TABLEAU II

IDENTIFICATION DES AFFICHAGES

Display

Tell-Tale Colour

Identification

Couleur

du témoin

Affichage

Headlamp upper beam

BLUE 5

or

GREEN

BLEU 5

ou

VERT

Faisceaux-route des projecteurs

Turn signals

GREEN

Clignotants

Hazard warning signal

RED 5

Feux d'avertissement

Seat belt

RED 5

Ceinture de sécurité

Fuel level

 

Niveau de carburant

Engine oil pressure

 

Pression d'huile du moteur

Engine coolant temperature

 

Température du liquide de refroidissement

Battery charging condition

 

Charge de la batterie

Brake system malfunction

RED 5

Mauvais fonctionnement du système de freinage

Air brake low pressure

RED 5

Type optional/

marque optionnelle

Basse pression des freins à air comprimé

Antilock brake system malfunction

Mauvais fonctionnement du dispositif de frein anti-blocage

Variable brake proportioning system malfunction 6

Mauvais fonctionnement du compensateur de freinage 6

Parking brake applied 6

Frein de stationnement appliqué 6

Low brake fluid condition

Bas niveau de liquid de frein

Gross loss of brake pressure condition

Perte totale de pression du système de freinage

Brake lining wear-out condition

Usure des garnitures de frein

Automatic transmission control position

Manufacturer's option/

choix du fabricant

Position de la commande de la boîte de vitesses automatique

 

Display

Tell-Tale Colour

Identification

Couleur

du témoin

Affichage

Speedometer

km/h

Compteur de vitesse

Odometer

8

Odomètre


1 Framed areas of the symbol may be solid.
2 The left and right arrows may be separated if arrows operate independently flashing green lights.
3 Hazard warning signal is not required when independently operated turn signal lights flash simultaneously as hazard warning lights.
4 Outline may be used alone.
5 Red may be red-orange. Blue may be blue-green.
6 If a single tell-tale is used to indicate more than one brake system condition, use the brake system malfunction symbol.
7 Combination of the engine oil pressure symbol and the engine coolant temperature symbol in a single tell-tale is permitted.
8 The unit of measurement, if identified, is "km". Where an electronic odometer display can be switched from "km" to "mi" or from "mi" to "km" independently of the units being displayed by a speedometer, the odometer units must be identified in miles or kilometres as appropriate.


1 Les parties encadrées du symbole peuvent être pleines.
2 Il est permis de dissocier les flèches si leur fonctionnement est indépendant (lumière verte clignotante.)
3 Des feux d'avertissement ne sont pas nécessaire lorsque les clignotants servent également de feux d'avertissement.
4 Il est permis d'utiliser seulement le contour.
5 Il est permis d'utiliser le rouge-orange au lieu du rouge et le bleu-vert au lieu du bleu.
6 Si un seul témoin est employé pour indiquer plus d'une condition du système de freinage, employer le symbole de mauvais fonctionnement du système de freinage.
7 Il est permis d'utiliser un même témoin à la fois pour le symbole de la pression d'huile du moteur et le symbole de la température du liquide de refroidissement.
8 L'unité de mesure, si elle est indiquée, est « km ». Dans le cas d'un affichage électronique de l'odomètre pouvant passer de « km » en « mi » ou de « mi » en « km », indépendamment de l'unité de mesure affichée par le compteur de vitesse, l'unité de mesure de l'odomètre doit être indiquée en milles ou kilomètres, selon le cas.

 

Established by the CONSOLIDTED REGULATIONS OF CANADA, 1978

amended by

SOR/78-257 20 March, 1978 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, effective September 1, 1981.

Revoked and replaced.

SOR/86-976 11 September, 1986 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Revoked and replaced.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT IS NOW CHAPTER M-10 OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF CANADA, 1985.

SOR/93-31 28 January, 1993 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Revoked and replaced.

SOR/94-374 26 May, 1994 pursuant to section 4 and 7 of the Motor Vechicle Safety Act

Paragraphs 101(1)(i), 101(1)(t) and 101(2) of Schedule IV of the French version; subsection 101(II) of Schedule IV; paragraph 101(13)(d) of Schedule IV of the French version; the expression "Signal d'avertissement" in the column entitled "Commande" in table I to section 101 of Schedule IV of the French version; and the expression "signal d'avertissement" in the column entitled "Indicateur ou témoin" in the Table II to section 101 of Schedule IV to the French version.

SOR/95-147 21 March, 1995 pursuant to subsection 3(2) and sections 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, effective April 12, 1995

Section 101 of Part II of Schedule IV by adding subsection (18.1).

SOR/95-164 28 March, 1995 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Note 9 of Table II to section 101 of Schedule IV.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT IS NOW CHAPTER 16 OF THE STATUTES OF CANADA, 1993.

SOR/97-200 15 April, 1997 pursuant to section 5, subsection 11(2) and section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Subsection 101(2) of Schedule IV; paragraphs 101(9) (a) to (l) of Schedule IV; section 101 of Schedule IV by adding paragraph (9.1); subsection 101(10) of Schedule IV preceding paragraph (a); paragraph 101(3)(c) of Schedule IV; and Table II to section 101 of Schedule IV.

SOR/97-421 28 August, 1997 pursuant to subsection 5(1) and section 11 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, in force August 28, 1997

Paragraph 101(1)(s) of Schedule IV.

SOR/2003-272  24 July, 2003 pursuant to section 5 and subsection 11(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, comes into force 24 July, 2003.

The portion of subsection 101(9.1) of Schedule IV before paragraph (a) is replaced.


Last updated: 2005-03-02 Top of Page Important Notices