The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the results from their September brake-focused inspection campaign.
On November 12, the CVSA shared results from Brake Safety Week 2019, which was conducted in the U.S. and Canada on September 15 — 21.
During Brake Safety Week, 34,320 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted. Of those inspected vehicles, 4,626 — or 13.5% — were placed out of service for brake violations.
This year, inspectors were focused on brake hoses and tubing. The CVSA shared a few key points of data on this focus.
- 2,567 units had chafed rubber hose violations.
- 1,347 units had chafed thermoplastic hose violations.
- 2,704 violations of § 393.45 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and Canadian equivalent violations included chafed rubber hoses.
- There were 1,683 violations of § 393.45 of the FMCSRs and Canadian equivalent violations that included kinked thermoplastic hoses.
“Inspectors conduct more than 4 million roadside inspections every year and checking brake components is just one element of the inspection procedure inspectors perform on commercial motor vehicles every day,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “This inspection and enforcement event reminds drivers and motor carriers of the importance of properly functioning brakes and spotlights the work done by inspectors, motor carriers and drivers every day to keep our roadways safe by ensuring vehicles are in appropriate working condition.”
The CVSA pointed to enforcement activities like Brake Safety Week as a way to improve highway safety and cut down on rising truck fatalities:
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, highway crash fatality data for 2018, there was a 2.4% decline in overall fatalities, the second consecutive year of reduced crash fatalities. However, conversely, for 2018, large-truck related fatalities increased by 0.9%.
“While we applaud the decrease in the overall number of fatalities on our roadways last year, we’re alarmed by the increase in the number of large-truck-related fatalities,” said Sgt. Samis. “CVSA conducts high-profile, high-visibility enforcement events, such as Brake Safety Week, to reduce the number of fatalities occurring on our roadways. Roadway safety is our number one priority and we will continue our efforts to improve brake safety throughout North America.”
During Brake Safety Week 2018, 35,080 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted and 4,955 –14.1% — of inspected vehicles were taken out of service for brake violations.
