Annual Brake Check Campaign Starts Sept. 6th

Inspectors will be on the prowl for faulty brakes in early September.

During the week of September 6–12, law enforcement officers in the US, Canada and Mexico will perform brake inspections as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week.

Officers will look for out of adjustment brakes and brake-system violations on commercial trucks and buses. Inspectors will use this procedure.

What is Brake Safety Week?

Brake Safety Week is an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial vehicle brake safety throughout North America. CVSA officials say brake related issues were the most common out-of-service violation during the organization’s International Roadcheck Campaign in 2014. Experts say incorrectly installed and poorly maintained brakes can increase the stopping distance on large commercial vehicles – threatening the safety of other drivers and their passengers.

What do the Brake Inspections Involve?

According to the CVSA, law enforcement officers will look for loose or missing parts, air or hydraulic fuel leaks, worn linings, pads, drums or rotors and other bad system components. Defective brakes will result in the officers putting the truck or bus out of service until repairs can be made.

Brake Safety Week Statistics

This program is not to be taken lightly. Last year, inspectors combed through nearly 13,500 vehicles during Brake Safety Week and placed more than 2,000 vehicles out of service for violations. Law enforcement officers have inspected more than 3.4 million brakes since the program launched in 1998.