(a) Subdivision 25 of section 375 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides that it shall be unlawful to operate on any public highway or street in New York State, any commercial motor vehicle, combination of a commercial motor vehicle and trailer or combination of a truck-tractor and semitrailer without being equipped with splash guards and stone deflectors.

(b) For the purposes of this Part, the term splash guard shall be deemed to refer to splash guards and stone deflectors.