Law enforcement in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections, educate drivers and motor carriers about the importance of brake safety, and provide brake inspection and violation data to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) for this year’s Brake Safety Week, scheduled for Aug. 24-30.

Safety Focus: Drums & Rotors

CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week, focusing on brake systems and components. In addition, inspectors will focus on drums and rotors, the emphasis during this year’s brake-safety initiative. 

CVSA pointed out that brake drum and rotor issues may affect a vehicle’s brake efficiency. Broken pieces of drums and rotors may become dislodged from the vehicle while in transit. This could damage other vehicles or result in injuries or fatalities to the motoring public.

Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations, or any other out-of-service violations, will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.

Capturing CMV Brake Data

During Brake Safety Week, inspectors will capture data about commercial motor vehicle inspections, brake systems and components, and brake-related violations and report that data to CVSA. 

Some jurisdictions will use performance-based brake testers (PBBT) to assess the braking performance of vehicles and submit PBBT-specific data to the Alliance. CVSA will collect and analyze all data and report the results publicly later this year.

Brake-Safety Education

Brake-safety educational efforts by inspectors, motor carriers, and others in the industry take place during Brake Safety Week. CVSA said these efforts are integral to the success of the campaign. 

CVSA also offers resources to help drivers, motor carriers, owner-operators, and technicians prepare for Brake Safety Week.

Goal of Brake Safety Week

Brake Safety Week aims to improve commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to eliminate roadway crashes by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, large- and small-fleet motor carriers, owner-operators, and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance, and operation.