Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1038) Location and Identification of Controls and Displays

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;

• (y) the identification lamps switch; and

• (z) the electronic stability control system off control.

(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;

• (s) the odometer;

• (t) a low tire pressure warning that does not identify which tire has low pressure;

• (u) a low tire pressure warning that identifies which tire has low pressure;

• (v) a tire pressure monitoring system malfunction;

• (w) an electronic stability control system malfunction; and

• (x) the deactivation of the electronic stability control system.

(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;

• (l) the windshield wiping system; and

• (m) the electronic stability control system off control.

(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 (m), 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;

• (l) the odometer;

• (m) the low tire pressure tell-tale that does not identify which tire has low pressure;

• (n) the low tire pressure tell-tale that identifies which tire has low pressure;

• (o) the tire pressure monitoring system malfunction tell-tale;

• (p) the electronic stability control system malfunction tell-tale; and

• (q) the electronic stability control system off tell-tale.

(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 section 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) and in S5.5.5 of Technical Standards Document No. 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems, 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 / TABLEAU I

SYMBOLS FOR IDENTIFYING CONTROLS / SYMBOLES D’IDENTIFICATION DES COMMANDES

Control	Identification		Commande
Clearance lamps, identification lamps and side marker lamps		1 3	Feux de gabarit, feux d’identification et feux de position latéraux
Master lighting switch		1	Commutateur général d’éclairage
Headlamp upper and lower beams		1 3	Faisceaux-route et faisceaux-croisement des projecteurs
Turn signals		1 2	Clignotants
Hazard warning signal		1	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		1	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
Electronic stability control system off			Désactivation du système de contrôle électronique de la stabilité

1.  Framed areas of the symbol may be solid.		1.  La partie encadrée du symbole peut-être pleine.
2.  Outline may be used alone.		2.  Il est permis d’utiliser seulement le contour.
3.  Symbol not required if function is combined with master lighting switch.		3.  Le symbole n’est pas nécessaire si la commande est couplée au commutateur général d’éclairage.

TABLE II / TABLEAU II

IDENTIFICATION OF DISPLAYS / IDENTIFICATION DES AFFICHAGES

Display	Tell-tale Colour		Identification		Couleur du témoin		Affichage
Headlamp upper beam	BLUE or GREEN	5		1	BLEU ou VERT	5	Faisceaux-route des projecteurs
Turn signals	GREEN	5		1 2	VERT		Clignotants
Hazard warning signal	RED			1 3	ROUGE	5	Feux d’avertissement
Seat belt	RED	5		4	ROUGE	5	Ceinture de sécurité
Fuel level				4			Niveau de carburant
Engine oil pressure				7			Pression d’huile du moteur
Engine coolant temperature				7			Température du liquide de refroidissement
Battery charging condition							Charge de la batterie
Brake system malfunction	RED	5		6	ROUGE	5	Mauvais fonctionnement du système de freinage
Air brake low pressure	RED	5	Type optional/ marque optionnelle		ROUGE	5	Basse pression des freins à air comprimé
Antilock brake system malfunction	YELLOW				JAUNE		Mauvais fonctionnement du dispositif de frein anti-blocage
Variable brake proportioning system malfunction 6	YELLOW		Manufacturer’s option/ choix du fabricant		JAUNE		Mauvais fonctionnement du compensateur de freinage 6
Parking brake applied 6	RED	5	Manufacturer’s option/ choix du fabricant		ROUGE	5	Frein de stationnement appliqué 6
Low brake fluid condition	RED	5	Manufacturer’s option/ choix du fabricant		ROUGE	5	Bas niveau de liquide de frein
Gross loss of brake pressure condition	RED	5	Manufacturer’s option/ choix du fabricant		ROUGE	5	Perte totale de pression du système de freinage
Brake lining wear-out condition	RED or YELLOW	5	Manufacturer’s option/ choix du fabricant		ROUGE ou JAUNE	5	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
Speedometer	km/h						Compteur de vitesse
Odometer	8						Odomètre
Low tire pressure that does not identify which tire has low pressure (including tire pressure monitoring system malfunction)	YELLOW				JAUNE		Faible pression des pneus qui n’indique pas dans quel pneu la pression est faible (y compris le mauvais fonctionnement du système de surveillance de la pression des pneus)
Low tire pressure that identifies which tire has low pressure (including tire pressure monitoring system malfunction)	YELLOW				JAUNE		Faible pression des pneus qui indique dans quel pneu la pression est faible (y compris le mauvais fonctionnement du système de surveillance de la pression des pneus)
Tire pressure monitoring system malfunction	YELLOW		TPMS		JAUNE		Mauvais fonctionnement du système de surveillance de la pression des pneus
Electronic stability control system or related systems malfunction	YELLOW				JAUNE		Mauvais fonctionnement du système de contrôle électronique de la stabilité ou de systèmes connexes
Electronic stability control system off	YELLOW				JAUNE		Désactivation du système de contrôle électronique de la stabilité

1. Framed areas of the symbol may be solid.	1. Les parties encadrées du symbole peuvent être pleines.
2. The left and right arrows may be separated if arrows operate independently flashing green lights.	2. Il est permis de dissocier les flèches si leur fonctionnement est indépendant (lumière verte clignotante).
3. Hazard warning signal is not required when independently operated turn signal lights flash simultaneously as hazard warning lights.	3. Des feux d’avertissement ne sont pas nécessaires lorsque les clignotants servent également de feux d’avertissement.
4. Outline may be used alone.	4. Il est permis d’utiliser seulement le contour.
5. Red may be red-orange. Blue may be blue-green.	5. Il est permis d’utiliser le rouge-orange au lieu du rouge et le bleu-vert au lieu du bleu.
6. If a single tell-tale is used to indicate more than one brake system condition, use the brake system malfunction symbol.	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. Combination of the engine oil pressure symbol and the engine coolant temperature symbol in a single tell-tale is permitted.	7. Il est permis d’utiliser un même témoin pour le symbole de la pression d’huile du moteur et le symbole de la température du liquide de refroidissement.
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.	8. L’unité de mesure, si elle est indiquée, est le « 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 doit être indiquée en milles ou kilomètres, selon le cas.

• SOR/78-257, s. 2;
• SOR/86-976, s. 2;
• SOR/93-31, s. 3;
• SOR/94-374, s. 5;
• SOR/95-147, s. 7;
• SOR/95-164, s. 3;
• SOR/97-200, s. 3;
• SOR/97-421, ss. 18(E), 19(F), 20(F);
• SOR/2003-272, s. 7;
• SOR/2007-180, s. 22(F);
• SOR/2008-258, s. 7;
• SOR/2009-318, s. 19(F);
• SOR/2009-323, s. 2.