Safety Officials Conduct Widespread Brake Inspections during Brake Safety Week
As drivers, our safety is frequently dependent on the function of the brakes of the other vehicles around us. This is especially true when it comes to the function of brakes in large commercial vehicles. Each year in the fall, law enforcement across Canada and the US conduct thorough inspections of the brakes of thousands of commercial vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and buses, looking for deficiencies that could cause a serious truck accident.
“Brake Safety Week” is an initiative developed and spearheaded by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), a nonprofit group consisting of representatives from an array of law enforcement and federal regulatory bodies. The CVSA, in concert with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), developed Brake Safety Week as a way to address a troubling trend of poor brake condition among commercial vehicles. While commercial drivers and carrier companies are legally required to inspect the brakes of vehicles heading out onto the road on a daily basis, these inspections don’t always occur, or when they do, they don’t result in all necessary repairs. “[Commercial motor vehicle] brakes are designed to hold up under tough conditions, but they must be routinely inspected and maintained carefully and consistently so they operate and perform properly throughout the vehicle’s life,” the CVSA stated. “Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking efficiency and increase the stopping distance of trucks and buses, posing serious risks to driver and public safety.”
Brake safety among large commercial vehicles is critical in order for other drivers to stay safe. Large trucks and other commercial vehicles are magnitudes heavier than the average passenger vehicle—up to 30 times as heavy, in fact. These vehicles require 20 to 40% more distance to come to a complete stop, and where conditions are poor due to precipitation or other road hazards, this distance gets even longer. If the brakes of a large vehicle aren’t functioning properly, they can do enormous damage when colliding with personal cars and trucks. During last year’s Brake Inspection Week, 12% of the over-18,800 vehicles inspected were taken off the road after their brakes failed to pass inspection.
If you’ve been hurt in a Mississippi truck accident, seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries such as reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage by contacting Gulfport truck accident and personal injury lawyer Corban Gunn for a free consultation on your claims, at 228.284.6805.
