WASHINGTON – Reported brake violations have been traditionally lower in Canada than in the U.S., and this remained the case during the most recent Operation Air Brake "Brake Safety Week."

According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), 13.7 percent of vehicles in the U.S. were placed out of service for brake adjustments compared to 10.3 percent in Canada during Brake Safety Week 2010.

Canada also reported a significant drop in overall OOS rates for brakes in 2010 (4.4%) versus 2009 (6.5%).

Overall, though, there was a significant drop in the number of OOS defects for brake components as well as other defects across North America, despite the number of vehicles inspected during the blitz reaching a historic high this year.

Out of 30,472 vehicles inspected, 2,717 vehicles were placed OOS for brake adjustments (8.9% in 2010, 9.0% in 2009); 2,435 vehicles were placed OOS for brake components (8.0% in 2010, 9.2% in 2009); while 4,117 vehicles were placed OOS for brakes (13.5% in 2010, 15.1% in 2009).

The Operation Air Brake campaign is an ongoing effort by North American truck enforcement agencies dedicated to improving commercial vehicle brake safety throughout North America.

"While enforcement is a major focus of Operation Air Brake, education also is critically important," said CVSA’s Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler.

CVSA recently completed a survey of 7,500 drivers during Brake Safety Week that showed education remains a big issue, said Keppler.

"We use the information gathered from Operation Air Brake to really try to understand problem areas and assist industry in increasing their compliance to improve highway safety for them and the motoring public."