KRS 189.090: Brakes.

(1) No owner shall knowingly operate or permit to be operated on a highway a motor

vehicle upon which the brakes are defective.

(2) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a highway shall

be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold

the vehicle. There shall be two (2) separate means of applying the brakes, each of

which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two (2) wheels. If the

two (2) separate means are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that

failure of any one (1) part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor

vehicle without brakes on at least two (2) wheels.

(3) (a) Except for commercial motor vehicles with a declared gross vehicle weight of

more the ten thousand (10,000) pounds, the service brakes upon any motor

vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be adequate to stop the vehicle when

traveling twenty (20) miles per hour within a distance of forty (40) feet when

upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material where

the grade does not exceed one percent (1%).

(b) Under the conditions described in subsection (3)(a), the hand brake shall be

adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty -five (55) feet and the

hand brake shall be adequate to hold the vehicle stationary on any grade upon

which it is operated.

(c) Under the conditions described in subsection (3)(a), the service brakes upon a

motor vehicle equipped with two (2) -wheel brakes only shall be adequate to

stop the vehicle within a distance of forty (40) feet and the hand brake

adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty-five (55) feet.

(d) All braking distances specified in this section shall apply whether or not the

vehicles are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted by law.

(e) All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted

as to operate with equal effect with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of

the vehicle.

(4) A person shall not operate any commercial motor veh icle with a declared gross

weight of over ten thousand (10,000) pounds on any highway in this state unless it

is equipped with efficient brakes that meet the federal motor carrier safety standards

in 49 C.F.R. pt. 393 and may be operated by the operator of the vehicle.