Inspectors in 47 jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States recently conducted 4,898 commercial motor vehicle inspections in a single day as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) annual Brake Safety Day. This event focused on the brake systems of commercial motor vehicles and preventing truck accidents.
Brake Safety Day is an annual event organized by CVSA to ensure the safety of commercial motor vehicles operating across North America. The event involves unannounced inspections by certified CVSA inspectors who focus on the brake system conditions in large commercial trucks. This year, inspectors from 47 jurisdictions participated to help promote consistent safety standards.
What were the key findings of Brake Safety Day?
The inspections revealed that 88.4% of the vehicles inspected didn't have any brake-related out-of-service violations. However, inspectors found brake-related critical violations on 570 vehicles (11.6%) of the vehicles inspected. These vehicles were immediately taken out of service until the necessary repairs could be made.
In the United States, 37 jurisdictions conducted 3,859 Level I, IV, and V inspections. The majority of vehicles inspected (3,411) had no brake-related out-of-service violations. However, 448 vehicles were taken out of service due to brake-related violations. Additionally, inspectors discovered brake lining or pad violations in 74 power units and 46 towed units.
One of the most prevalent findings was related to vehicles with 20% brake violations. This means that 20% or more of the vehicle's service brakes were found to be in an out-of-service condition. These violations made up 57.9% of all brake-related out-of-service violations.
Inspectors found other brake violations in 256 vehicles, which represented 44.9% of the total out-of-service violations. These included worn brake lines, broken brake drums, and inoperative low-air warning devices. Additionally, inspectors found steering-related brake violations in 73 vehicles, which accounted for 12.8% of the brake-related out-of-service violations.
This year's inspections placed a particular emphasis on the health of brake linings and pads. Inspectors found that:
- 108 power units and 66 towed units had brake lining or pad violations.
- In power units, inspectors found 114 brake lining/pad violations, with contamination being the most common issue (48 violations).
- In towed units, inspectors found 71 violations, with cracks or voids in the linings or pads being the leading issue (23 cases).
What role did performance-based brake testers (PBBT) play?
Nine U.S. jurisdictions used performance-based brake testers (PBBT) during Brake Safety Day to assess the braking performance of vehicles. These machines measure whether a vehicle meets the minimum braking efficiency of 43.5% as required by U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and CVSA's North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. Out of 88 PBBT inspections conducted, four vehicles (4.5%) failed to meet the minimum standard.
Failing the PBBT can have severe consequences for both road safety and a truck's operational integrity. That includes:
- Increased stopping distance
- Loss of vehicle control
- Increased wear and tear on other vehicle components
What are common truck accidents caused by brake failure?
Brake failure can lead to several types of truck crashes, each with its own set of risks and consequences. The most common types of truck crashes caused by brake failure:
- Rear-end collisions
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover crashes
- Runaway truck incidents
- Side-impact collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Underride accidents
How a truck accident lawyer can help if you've been injured
Being injured in a truck accident in Arkansas is different from a car accident with another passenger vehicle driver. Trucking companies often go to great lengths to cover up their negligence. On top of that, insurance companies stand to lose a lot of money and will use tactics to keep their costs down, even at your expense.
That's why you need a skilled Arkansas truck accident attorney on your side who understands how these cases work. At McDaniel Law Firm, PLC, we can investigate your truck crash, gather the facts to build your case, and take on the trucking companies and their insurers on your behalf.
Our goal is to protect your rights and secure the maximum compensation you deserve through a settlement or court award. With a law office in Jonesboro, we serve injured motorists and their families across Arkansas. Contact us online or call us to schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
