Brakes are an essential safety component on large trucks,made even more important because of their enormous size. Drivers, pedestrians, and other road users are seriously at risk when a truck fails to stop on time.
When a truck’s brakes malfunction, the driver may lose control of the vehicle and collide with other vehicles. The effects can be disastrous. Property damage and serious or even deadly injuries are also possible outcomes of an accident.
Brake Safety Campaigns in 2022
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Airbrake project will hold two yearly brake safety campaigns this year in an effort to reduce the rising frequency of accidents involving brakes.
The Operation Airbrake project, a public information and enforcement campaign aimed at reducing the incidence of highway collisions brought on by malfunctioning brake systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), includes Brake Safety Week. Inspecting heavy trucks and buses with an increased focus on brake system infractions are state, provincial, territorial, municipal, and federal commercial vehicle safety officials from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The upcoming Brake Safety Week will take place from August 21–27, 2022. An unannounced one-day brake safety enforcement initiative will take place, and it could happen at any time.
During the entire week, inspectors will carry out their regular Level I and V North American Standard inspections and collect and submit brake-related data to CVSA. The emphasis this year will be on complete inspections and out-of-service violations involving the brakes. Inspectors will also record and submit statistics on violations with the brake hose/tubing chafing.
Unannounced Inspections
The majority of the out-of-service vehicle violations discovered during roadside inspections continue to be brake-related. Brake systems and brake adjustment infractions accounted for 38.9% of all vehicle out-of-service violations last year, the highest percentage of any category of vehicle offenses, according to the three-day International Roadcheck data.
On April 27 of this year, 46 jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S. carried out unannounced Brake Safety Day inspections with a specific focus on the brake systems and components on CMVs.
During the one-day inspection and enforcement campaign throughout the US and Canada, a total of 9,132 CMVs were inspected. 1290 CMVs, or 14.1% of those inspected, were taken out of service for serious brake-related offenses.
Brake-Related Causes of Truck Accidents
Inadequate maintenance, a defective product, or both may be to blame for a crash when the brakes fail.
Inadequate Brake Maintenance
Most brake failures are caused by improper maintenance. Brake assemblies for commercial trucks feature several components, making their braking systems very complicated. Too many truck owners neglect adequate brake maintenance, despite the fact that these systems require routine maintenance by a skilled commercial truck repair. The correct upkeep of truck brakes is mandated by federal law, and truck owners are required to keep a journal of all maintenance and inspections.
The following are some of the most typical braking issues caused by improper maintenance:
- Inadequately adjusted brakes.
- Brakes that overheat.
- Damaged brake parts.
- Unbalanced air pressure
Faulty Brakes
To guarantee the dependability and safety of their goods, truck brake manufacturers are subject to rigorous regulations.
Brakes must be able to stop a truck at a particular minimum rate, with a minimum amount of braking force, and other performance requirements. Brakes are regarded as faulty if they don’t meet certain standards. This malfunction can be the result of issues with the brake’s construction or errors made during the manufacturing process.
CMVs Being Prepared for Brake Safety Week
Brake Safety Week will be held from August 21–27 so there is no excuse not to be prepared. The CVSA advises motor carriers to perform proactive vehicle maintenance in advance of the event, and it reminds drivers and carriers of the value of performing pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections.
Contact Us
You may be eligible for compensation from several parties if you were hurt in a truck accident that was brought on by faulty or improperly maintained brakes. To discuss how we can help you, contact Flick Law Firm at (816) 221-0501 to talk with one of our truck accident lawyers.
