The results are in from the 72-hour Roadcheck 2004 that took place recently throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and of the 57,785 driver and vehicle inspections conducted,
a CVSA decal was placed on 27,749 commercial vehicles showing that no safety violations were found during the vehicle inspection.
That is the highest number of vehicles with no violations discovered in the 16-year history of the annual Roadchecks.
The 7,968 state and provincial inspectors and the 217 federal inspectors presented drivers with brochures to remind them that wearing a safety belt can save their lives, reduce injuries and avoid receiving a citation.
Inspectors said only 1.3% of all drivers inspected during Roadcheck 2004 were not wearing safety belts.
Other Roadcheck 2004 results included fewer hours of service violations. Inspectors found out of service violations in 3.44% of the inspections; in 2003, the percentage was 3.69%. This is a positive sign that compliance with the revised regulations that took effect Jan. 4 is moving in the right direction. Also, the hazardous materials out of service rate dropped slightly this year for vehicles (19.1% from 20.0%) and was equal to
last year’s number for drivers (2.3%).
Not all of the statistics rang the "safety" bell this year. For the second year in a row, vehicle out-of-service rates were higher -- 23.9% in Roadcheck 2004 versus 22.7% in 2003 and 22.0% in 2002. This year, driver out-of-service rates remained at 5.0%.
FMCSA Administrator Annette M. Sandberg said, "The roadside inspection program, and the emphasis placed on the international Roadcheck, are important activities in support of FMCSA’s overall mission to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses."