The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is gearing up for its annual Brake Safety Week Sept. 12-18. The event is part of the organization's Operation Air Brake Campaign, which aims to improve inspection, compliance, maintenance and performance of commercial vehicle brakes throughout North America.

During the week, CVSA-certified inspectors, brake suppliers and industry partners will conduct enforcement and education activities with drivers and mechanics at truckstops, weigh stations and other locations.

CVSA-certified officers will conduct Level I and Brake-Only inspections, and will deploy performance-based brake testers at a number of inspection locations. In addition, CVSA officers will administer driver surveys and distribute educational brochures.

According to CVSA, out of adjustment air brakes and brake system defects constitute the major defect areas resulting in commercial vehicles being placed out of service. Poorly adjusted or defective air brakes reduce the braking capacity for large vehicles and further inhibit their stopping distance. Under ideal conditions, the braking capacity of commercial vehicles is twice as far as that for cars and other smaller vehicles. This increases the risk to other users of the road and the driver of the vehicle itself.