In advance of a continent-wide roadcheck slated for Aug. 22-28 targeting truck brakes, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance held surprise inspections on May 26, which it called Brake Safety Day.
The results lent support to the state truck safety officer group’s view that this is a component that deserves scrutiny. Inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the United States conducted 10,091 inspections and placed 1,273 vehicles out of service for brake-related critical vehicle inspection items
Brake system violations was the top vehicle out-of-service category during 2020’s three-day International Roadcheck commercial vehicle and driver inspection and enforcement safety initiative.
On May 26, the U.S. brake-violation out-of-service rate was 13.3%, in Canada, it was 11.4% and in Mexico, 2.9%.
In addition, inspectors compiled and reported data specifically on brake hoses/tubing, the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Day. Canada, Mexico and the U.S. reported a total of 1,725 brake hoses/tubing violations. Broken out by country: Canada reported 251 chafing violations, Mexico reported 186 and the U.S. reported 1,288.
“Brake hoses and tubing are essential brake system components and must be properly attached, undamaged, without leaks and flexible,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis.
“We chose to focus on brake hoses/tubing this year in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries as a result of commercial motor vehicle brake-system failures from pressure or vacuum loss due to brake hose/tubing deficiencies.”
Brake Safety Day and Brake Safety Week are part of CVSA’s Operation Airbrake program.