Brake Safety Week 2023
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced the upcoming Brake Safety Week, scheduled to take place from August 20 – 26, 2023. This annual event holds significant importance in promoting brake safety awareness and enforcing compliance among commercial motor vehicles, ultimately enhancing road safety and reducing potential accidents related to faulty braking systems.
During Brake Safety Week, certified inspectors will conduct meticulous inspections of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on brake lining and pad violations. Any vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from public roadways until these violations are corrected, ensuring a safer environment for all road users.
Focus on Brake Lining/Pad Violations
Emphasizing the significance of brake lining and pads, CVSA President Maj. Chris Nordloh from the Texas Department of Public Safety stated that issues related to these components could result in vehicle violations and potentially impact a motor carrier’s safety rating. Hence, meticulous inspection and proper maintenance of these elements are essential for the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles.
Inspectors will conduct detailed checks during Level I and Level V Inspections, examining various aspects of the brake system. These checks include inspecting for missing, loose, or cracked parts, as well as verifying the condition of linings and pads for wear, contamination, and damage. Audible air leaks around brake components and lines will also be diligently listened for during inspections.
Furthermore, inspectors will scrutinize critical brake system components such as S-cam flipover, slack adjusters, air chambers, and pushrod travel to maintain appropriate air pressure within the recommended range. Additionally, they will ensure compliance with regulations pertaining to non-manufactured holes, broken springs in the spring brake housing section, and the functionality of required brake system warning devices, such as ABS malfunction lamps and low air-pressure warning devices. The tractor protection system, including the bleedback system on trailers, and the operability of the breakaway system on trailers will also undergo thorough examination.
Operation Airbrake
CVSA’s Brake Safety Week campaign not only focuses on inspections but also aims to raise awareness through education and outreach efforts. By outlining the brake-system inspection procedure, CVSA enables drivers and motor carriers to be aware of the specific elements that inspectors will evaluate during roadside inspections. This knowledge empowers all stakeholders to proactively ensure that their commercial motor vehicles comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Properly installed and well-maintained brake systems are paramount to maintaining the braking capacity and stopping distance of commercial trucks and buses, significantly reducing potential safety hazards on the road.
For those seeking additional resources, CVSA offers a comprehensive vehicle inspection checklist for the brake portion of Level I and Level V Inspections, as well as a Brake Safety Week flyer with valuable tips on maintaining healthy brake lining and pad conditions. Inspection procedures, past brake-safety campaign results, and the latest inspection bulletins (eight in the brakes category currently) are also available, providing essential information to augment existing inspection programs.
CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program is dedicated to improving commercial vehicle brake safety across North America. Through roadside inspections and educational initiatives, the program aims to reduce the number of highway crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles.
As we approach Brake Safety Week 2023, let us collectively prioritize brake safety in commercial motor vehicles. By adhering to the highest safety standards and working together, we can create a significant impact in enhancing road safety and protecting lives on our highways.
2023 Brake Safety Day Results
On April 19, 6,829 commercial motor vehicles were inspected throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Day. Inspectors found brake-related critical vehicle inspection items on 11.3% of the vehicles inspected, indicating those vehicles were unfit and unsafe for roadways. As a result, inspectors restricted those 773 commercial motor vehicles from travel until the violations were corrected.
2022 Brake Safety Week Results
During Aug. 21-27 for Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 38,117 inspections of commercial motor vehicles. Of the commercial motor vehicles inspected, 13.3% were placed out of service for brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations. That also means that nearly 87% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected throughout North America during Brake Safety Week did not have brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations.
