Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Releases Results from Brake Safety Drill
27 Feb 2018
Brake Safety Day 2017 took place on September 7, 2017. Sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, or CVSA, the event is held in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (MFCSA) and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators. The results of this year’s event might give you pause if you spend any time on the road.
During the Brake Safety Event there were 7,698 vehicles inspected in the United States and Canada. Of those, 78 percent of the vehicles passed without violations that would require the vehicles to go out of service. However, there were 1,064 vehicles that did receive violations related to their brakes that forced the vehicles out of service.
One of the purposes of this event is to gather information about how antilock braking systems are maintained. Since braking systems are critical safety features for commercial motor vehicles, proper maintenance is of extreme importance. Failing to properly maintain commercial vehicle brakes could result in accidents and fatalities for commercial truck drivers and other people on the roads.
Brake-related violations accounted for 45.7 percent of all the “out of service” violations issued during another event, Operation Airbrake’s International Roadcheck campaign in 2016.
The Brake Safety Day even inspectors conducted a 37-step procedure to examine vehicle maintenance and driver operations. Inspectors look for a variety of issues including the condition of brake-system components. Specifically, they are looking for parts that are missing or loose. They are also looking for leaks in air or hydraulic fluids, and wear in pads, drums, linings, and rotors. Inspectors also check ABS malfunction indicators lamps. Vehicles that are found to have out-of-adjustment brakes or brakes that are defective are placed out-of-service until they are roadworthy again.
Since the program began, in 1998, there have been more than 3.4 million brakes inspected – all with the goal of making the roads safer for all drivers in mind.
What can you to avoid being caught in a situation like this?
Don’t wait for roadside checks, or an accident, to know whether your braking system is working properly or not. Be proactive and stay on top of regular maintenance with all vehicles in your fleet.
Our GPS tracking systems include scheduled maintenance reminders as well as alerts for a variety of engine issues. This lets you get a good image of your vehicle’s status, so you can stay ahead of violations, avoid breakdowns, and keep your entire fleet operational and on the road.
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