This year, participating agencies inspected 20,067 vehicles throughout Brake Safety Week and placed 2,714 commercial vehicles out-of-service for brake violations. Of the vehicles inspected, the Out-of-Service rate for all brake-related violations conducted in North America was 13.5%, compared with 15.3% for the same week in 2012.

This rate for brake violations ties with May 2013 and September 2010 for the lowest OOS rates recorded since similar events began in 1998. The OOS rate for brake adjustment rose slightly to 9.0%, still near a record low, and the OOS rate for brake components was 7.1%, the lowest it has been since 2000.

The OOS rates for inspections in Canada were lower than in the U.S., which is historically consistent. The OOS rate for brake adjustment was 9.2% in the U.S. and 6.2% in Canada. The OOS rate for brake components was 7.2% in the U.S. and 5.4% in Canada. The OOS rate for brakes was 13.6% in the U.S. and 11.6% in Canada.

Commercial vehicle safety inspectors from across the continent conducted their annual Brake Safety Week outreach and enforcement campaign Sept. 8-14.

Brake Safety Week is part of the Operation Airbrake program sponsored by CVSA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. During that week, inspectors selected vehicles for inspection and conducted either North American Standard Level I or Level IV inspections just on brake systems to verify regulatory compliance. They also helped to inform operators about the importance of proper maintenance.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance conducts this weeklong campaign every year with support from federal, state, provincial and local safety inspectors across North America.

Brake Safety Week Results at a Glance:     

• 20,067 vehicles were inspected. In 2012, 21,255 were inspected.

• 1,811 or 9% of vehicles were placed OOS for brake adjustment (9.4% in 2012, 8.4% in 2011, 8.9% in 2010).

• 1,434 or 7.1% of vehicles were placed OOS for brake components (7.8% in 2012, 7.9% in 2011, 8% in 2010).

• 2,714 or 13.5% of vehicles were placed OOS for brakes overall (15.3% in 2012, 14.2% in 2011, 13.5% in 2010).

• More than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected since the program’s inception.