Fewer commercial vehicles were placed out of service (OOS) this year during the annual Brake Safety Week, held as part of the Operation Airbrake Program sponsored by CVSA in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA).
According to CVSA, 12.3% of vehicles were place OOS this year compared to 16.2% in 2014. The OOS rate for brake adjustment was also lower at 7.7% vs. 10.4% in 2014, and the OOS rate for brake components was 6.9%, dropping from 9.3% in 2014.
Some 18,817 vehicles were inspected across North America with 2,321 placed OOS. The event was held Sept. 6-12, in the U.S. and Canada.
“Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections,” said Maj. Jay Thompson, CVSA president and a member of the Arkansas Highway Police. “Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking capacity and increase stopping distance of large trucks and buses, which poses serious risks to driver and public safety.”
Roadside inspections conducted during Brake Safety Week included inspection of brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts; air or hydraulic fluid leaks; cracked, damaged or worn linings, pads, drums or rotors; and other faulty brake-system components. Inspectors also checked anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction indicator lamps, inspected brake components and measured pushrod stroke, where applicable.
“For everyone’s safety, it’s vital that every vehicle operating on our highways and roads is mechanically sound and properly maintained,” said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Acting Administrator Scott Darling. “We thank the CVSA members across North America for their longstanding strong partnership, for their professionalism and their dedication toward protecting the motoring public each and every day.”
In Canada, OOS rates for brake adjustment violations came in at 3.7%; for brake component violations it was 6.2% and total brake violations were 9%.
