Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe vehicle operation and improperly installed or poorly maintained brakes must be kept off the road.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 05, 2013
Brake Safety Week is one of two enforcement and outreach campaigns dedicated to promoting truck and bus brake safety held by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) each year. The unannounced Brake Check is held each spring and Brake Safety Week each fall. This year, the fall campaign is scheduled for September 8-14, 2013, and will involve inspectors from nearly every CVSA member jurisdiction and inspectors from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In addition, outreach efforts by participating motor carriers and others in industry are integral to the success of the campaign. More than 30,000 brake inspections are expected to be conducted during Brake Safety Week.
According to CVSA Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler, Brake Safety Week’s success is a result of the hard work and volunteer support of CVSA member jurisdictions and their inspectors, associate members and other industry participants, plus the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “The essential message of Brake Safety Week is clear: properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe vehicle operation and improperly installed or poorly maintained brakes must be kept off the road. This intensive, unified enforcement effort brings about a greater awareness throughout the industry and that saves lives.”
“Every driver behind the wheel of a vehicle, whether it is a commercial truck, bus or private car, must keep their focus on safety at all times,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Brake Safety Week provides a crucial reminder for commercial vehicle operators to ensure their brake systems are well-maintained and effective year-round. It is also an opportunity to remind everyone to share the road safely: buckle up, give large trucks and buses plenty of space to maneuver and avoid distracted driving.”
Inspections conducted during Brake Safety Week consist primarily of brake specific Level IV special study inspections, though some Level I inspections are also conducted. Carriers are encouraged to be involved by helping educate drivers and mechanics about the importance of pre-trip inspections and proper brake maintenance.
About Operation Airbrake and Brake Safety Week
Brake Safety Week is organized and supported by CVSA’s Operation Airbrake program. Despite its name, the Operation Airbrake program is not strictly limited to promoting safety of vehicles with air brakes, but rather the brake-related safety of all commercial vehicles—including those with hydraulic, electric, mechanical or air brakes, and also brake related technologies. Brake inspections conducted during Brake Safety Week always include a visual inspection of brake system components to look for loose or missing parts, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, worn linings or pads, drums, rotors or other faulty brake system components. Antilock braking systems (ABS) malfunction indicator lamps are also checked. Inspectors will visually inspect brake components and measure pushrod stroke where appropriate.
Outreach Materials, Videos, Webinars are Available
The Operation Airbrake program and CVSA make available informational brochures for distribution by and to inspectors, drivers, technicians and the general public. Operation Airbrake also is developing new video and audio messages to educate and inform. These have come in the form of training videos, online webinars and radio interviews regarding the importance of proper brake maintenance and use. Many of these materials are available at http://www.operationairbrake.com.
About CVSA
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy-makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit http://www.cvsa.org.