After a 12-hour brake inspection conducted in the United States and Canada September 5, inspectors found fewer violations than were found the year before, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Inspectors found that although there was an increase in the number of participating jurisdictions and the number of inspections, there was a decrease in both the rate and severity of violations.
The annual brake inspection program is sponsored by CVSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
Both brake adjustment violations and brake-related defects were down from the previous year:
•Out-of-service violations for brake adjustments, 10.8 percent this year compared to 13.3 percent last year.
•Out-of-service violations for brake-related defects, this year, 15.8 percent compared to 17.8 percent last year.
This year, 12,875 units were inspected by 46-member jurisdictions, while last year 11,390 were inspected by 41 jurisdictions.
The special safety inspections are conducted several days each year as part of Operation Air Brake, the North American Brake Safety Campaign. In addition to enforcing all highway traffic regulations to reduce brake-related crashes, Operation Air Brake encourages drivers and motor carriers to increase their knowledge of brake inspection and maintenance, regulatory compliance, and vehicle brake performance.
For more information about Operation Air Brake in the United States, contact Steve Keppler at CVSA Headquarters at 301-564-1623, or e-mail [email protected] In Canada, contact John Meed at 306-787-4133 or e-mail [email protected]