The following equipment must be in safe working condition:

Brakes

Brakes must be able to stop passenger vehicles travelling at 30 km/h within 7.6 metres. Other motor vehicles, such as trucks and vans under 4,540 kg, must be able to stop within nine metres. All brakes should be periodically checked and, if necessary, adjusted.

Lights

All motor vehicles, except motorcycles, must have:

• two to four headlights, including a high beam and low beam on each side, in good working order (Vehicles must also have a high-beam indicator light. When operating your vehicle, headlights must be switched on a half hour before sunset until a half hour after sunrise and when visibility is reduced to 60 metres. A recommended safe driving practice is to drive with headlights on all the time.)
• functional daytime running lights, if manufactured on or after Dec. 1, 1989 (For motorcycles and mopeds, model year 1975 or later, a headlamp must be on at all times when being operated.)
• turn signals — amber or white lights at the front, red or amber lights at the rear (Motorcycles of the model or make of the year 1974 or earlier and mopeds are not required to be equipped with signal lights. Trailers require signal lights on the rear only.)
• at least two rear red lights or, for vehicles dated 1967 or earlier, at least one rear red light
• one functional centre high-mounted stop light, in addition to the regular stop lights, if it’s a passenger car manufactured after 1986
• one white light for the rear number plate
• at least one red light on the rear plus a stop light, if a trailer is attached (Towed vehicles with a width exceeding 2.05 metres, except passenger cars, must have clearance lights and reflectors at the front and rear.)
• a red flag clearly visible at the end of a load during daylight and a red light or reflector at the end of a load at night, if the load extends one metre or more past the rear of the vehicle

Tires

To maximize the safety and life of your tires:

• Use tires of the same construction and size. Your owner’s manual should inform you which is best for your vehicle.
• Using an accurate tire pressure gauge, check the air pressure of your tires at least once a month and after long trips. The best time to inflate tires is when they’re cool.
• Check your owner’s manual to determine if and when you should rotate tires.
• Always replace tires when the tread is less than 1.6 millimetres. After replacing tires, have the wheels balanced.
• Studded tires are illegal between April 30 and Oct. 1.

Remember: A tire with deep cuts, cracks, blisters or bulges is dangerous and should be replaced.