Unveiling the Outcomes of Brake Safety Week 2023
During the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week inspection blitz focusing on brake systems and components, more than 87% of the commercial vehicles inspected were free of brake-related out-of-service violations.
Law enforcement inspected 18,875 total commercial motor vehicles, 2,375 (12.6%) were removed from the roadways because inspectors discovered brake-related out-of-service violations.
Some examples of brake-related out-of-service violations that automatically placed the vehicles out of service:
- Broken brake drums
- Loose air tanks
- Corroded holes in a spring brake housing
- Inoperative tractor protection valves
Service brake violations, such as cracked linings, brake adjustment or loose chambers, may combine to put the combination of vehicles out of service under the 20% brake criterion, which states that a vehicle is out of service if the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination. Certain service brake violations are automatically placed out of service when found on the steering axle.
- 295 (12.4%) had steering axle brake violations
- 1,127 (47.5%) had stand-alone brake violations
- 1,394 (58.7%) failed the 20% defective brakes criterion.
The focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week was lining/pad violations, inspectors checked brake lining/pads for cracks, voids, and contamination. They also looked for loose, missing or worn brake lining/pads. A total of 379 power units and 261 trailers had lining/pad violations.
Although lining/pad violations are not necessarily out-of-service violations, CVSA selected lining/pads as the focus for this year’s Brake Safety Week because brake lining/pad violations still affect a motor carrier’s safety rating. If left unaddressed, brake lining/pad violations may lead to more serious problems and can be out-of-service violations if they are on the steering axle or combined with other brake violations for the 20% brake criterion.
Next year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 25-31, 2024
More From Our Blog
Understanding the 4-Second Rule and Safe Drive Spacing
Do you keep enough space between your car and the vehicle in front of you when you drive? Most drivers don’t allow for enough distance between themselves and other cars to be able to safely avoid a crash in case of a sudden braking or accident in front of them. What...
What Commercial Drivers Need to Know About Roadside Inspections
Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) performs a 3-day International Roadcheck Inspection blitz to conduct compliance, enforcement and educational initiatives targeted at various elements of motor carrier, vehicle and driver safety. They also...
Brake Safety Week Scheduled for Aug. 22-28
This year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 22-28. During Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors emphasize the importance of brake systems by conducting inspections and removing commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related...