Brake safety is crucial to keeping commercial vehicles safe while on the road. Therefore, Brake Safety Week was created to reach out to commercial vehicle drivers and owners as well as to increase enforcement of current laws. Between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will team up with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance for Operation Airbrake.
Commercial motor vehicle personnel will conduct Level IV inspections on buses and trucks throughout North America. They will be looking for brakes that are out of adjustment or are otherwise in violation of commercial vehicle safety laws. If brakes are not installed properly or are worn out, they may increase the stopping distance of a truck or bus. Federal law mandates that a truck have a minimum braking efficiency of 43.5 percent.
Since 1998, more than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected. In 2014, 13,305 vehicles had their brakes inspected. During the inspection, officials will look at brake pads, drums and liners as well as look for any leaking hydraulic fluid. ABS lights will also be checked to ensure that they do not come on during an examination. Vehicles will also be examined to make sure that there are no missing or loose parts in any of the braking systems.
Those who have been injured in a commercial truck accident may want to speak with an attorney to determine the remedies that are available. If a determination can be made that the accident was attributable to poor maintenance of the vehicle, it may be advisable to file a personal injury lawsuit against the trucking company seeking damages for the losses that have been sustained.