Brake Safety Week is just around the corner taking place from August 22 to August 28, 2021.
During the Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct brake system inspections (primarily Level IV Inspections) on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify brake-system violations.
Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe commercial motor vehicle operation. Commercial motor vehicle brakes are designed to hold up under tough conditions; however, they must be inspected and maintained carefully and consistently, so they operate and perform properly throughout the vehicle’s life.
Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections. Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of trucks and buses, which poses a serious risk to the driver and public safety.
Brake Safety Week Results from 2020
In 2020’s Brake Safety Week, 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations. Inspectors from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. removed 5,156 commercial motor vehicles from roadways due to brake violations during the week-long inspection and enforcement event, focused specifically on reducing brake-related crashes by conducting inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways.
In the U.S., 35,778 inspections were conducted; 4,565 vehicles (13%) were placed out of service for brake-related violations. In Mexico, 6% (355) of the 5,958 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations. In Canada, 1,829 inspections were conducted, and the brake-related out-of-service rate was 14% (256).
88% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected did not have brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations. In addition to capturing brake system out-of-service violation data, during the 2020 Brake Safety Week, inspectors also recorded and submitted data regarding the chafing of brake hoses. Inspectors reported levels of brake hose chafing violations, separated into five categories based on the level of severity; two of which were out-of-service conditions, three were not.
A total of 6,697 hose chafing violations were reported in a separate data query from participating jurisdictions.
Below, you’ll see a graphic indicating reported brake hose chafing violations by severity.
This graphic shows the percentage of total brake hose chafing violations.
More Blitzes
There is one final blitz for the 2021 season. It is an unannounced, one-day blitz, meaning that it could happen at any time during 2021. Much like Brake Safety Week, during this one-day effort, CMV inspectors will conduct brake system inspections (primarily Level IV Inspections) on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations.
