Brake Safety Week slated for Sept. 16-22

Roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles will be conducted from Sept. 16-22 as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week.

“Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe commercial motor vehicle operation,” the CVSA wrote in a news release. “Brakes must be routinely inspected and carefully and consistently maintained so they operate and perform to the manufacturer’s specifications throughout the life of the vehicle. Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking efficiency, posing serious risk to public safety on our roadways.”

During Brake Safety Week, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, which is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. Inspections will check brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts. Inspectors also will look for air or hydraulic fluid leaks, defective rotor conditions, measurement of pushrod travel, mismatched air chamber sizes across axles, air reservoir integrity and mounting, as well as worn linings, pads, drums, and rotors. Required brake-system warning devices and other brake-system components also will be inspected. Vehicles with defective or out-of-adjustment brakes will be placed out of service.

More information about CVSA and Brake Safety Week can be found here.