The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced that its Brake Safety Day is taking place on Sept. 7 this year across North America.
Law enforcement agencies will conduct inspections on large trucks and buses to identify out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake system and antilock braking system violations, as part of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program. This year’s Sept. 7 Brake Safety Day follows up on CVSA’s May 3 unannounced Brake Safety Day and replaces the seven-day Brake Safety Week campaign from previous years.
The goal of Brake Safety Day is to reduce the number of accidents caused by poorly maintained brakes on commercial vehicles by conducting roadside mechanical fitness inspections and identifying and removing vehicles with critical brake violations from the road.
The event will also feature outreach and educational efforts by inspectors, carriers, and others. Brake Safety Day activities seek to educate drivers, mechanics, owner-operators, and others on the importance of proper brake maintenance, operation, and performance.
On Brake Safety Day, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, which is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. Inspections conducted will include inspection of brake system components to identify loose or missing parts, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, worn linings, pads, drums or rotors, and other faulty brake system components. ABS malfunction indicator lamps are also checked. Inspectors will measure pushrod stroke, where applicable. Vehicles with defective or out-of-adjustment brakes will be placed out of service.
In the 10 jurisdictions using performance-based brake testing equipment, vehicle braking efficiency will be measured. PBBT systems include a slow speed roller dynamometer that measures total vehicle weight and total brake force from which braking efficiency is determined. The minimum braking efficiency for trucks is 43.5%, required by U.S. federal regulation and the CVSA out-of-service criteria.