GREENBELT, Md. – A total of 14 percent, or 1,064, of the nearly 7,700 commercial vehicles inspected during Brake Safety Day were placed out of service for brake-related violations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance reported.
Another 22 percent, or 1,680, were placed out of service for violations of any kind during the CVSA event, held Sept. 7 throughout North America.
The goal of Brake Safety Day is to conduct roadside inspections and identify and remove vehicles with critical brake violations from the roadways in an effort to reduce the number of crashes caused by or made more severe by brake system deficiencies on commercial motor vehicles.
Inspection data from Brake Safety Day featured the following notable results:
- 7,698 inspections were conducted.
- The U.S. conducted 6,361 inspections; Canada conducted 1,337.
- 14 percent (1,064) of all inspections resulted in a vehicle being placed out of service for brake-related violations.
- 22 percent (1,680) of vehicles inspected were placed out of service for vehicle violations of any kind.
- 78 percent of the vehicles inspected did not have any out-of-service conditions.
- 40 jurisdictions participated – 31 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces/territories.
Brake Safety Day also captured data on how well antilock braking systems (ABS) are maintained in accordance with federal regulations. ABS helps the driver to stop in the shortest possible distance under many conditions and to maintain steering control in situations when tires start to slip.
ABS violations were counted when the malfunction lamp did not work or stayed on. The findings are as follows:
- 5,456 air-braked power units required ABS; 11 percent (610) had ABS violations.
- 3,749 trailers required ABS; 14 percent (540) had ABS violations.
- 821 hydraulic-braked trucks required ABS; 5 percent (45) had ABS violations.
- 49 buses required ABS; 10 percent (five) had ABS violations.
