Increase in Out-of-Service Brake Violations ‘Troubling’

GREENBELT, MD. — One in seven vehicles chosen for inspection during Brake Safety Week had brake related out-of-service (OOS) violations, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

During the safety blitz, which happened back in September, 15.3 percent of vehicles inspected were OOS. That’s a higher percentage than 2011, 2010, and 2009, but lower than 2008 and 2007 levels.

Canada fared better than the U.S. with 10.8 percent of vehicles being placed OOS for brakes to the American’s 15.5 percent. Canada also had a lower percentage of vehicles placed OOS for brake adjustment than the U.S. — 5.5 percent versus the States’ 9.6 percent.

“The good news is that eight of ten trucks were compliant, however, the slight increase in out-of-service violations is troubling,” said CVSA Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler. “Our goal is safe vehicles, drivers and roadways. We will not tolerate anything less than 100 percent compliance with the safety rules of our roads,” said Keppler.

Brake Safety Week 2012 Results at-a-Glance:

21,255 vehicles were inspected. This is fewer than the record 30,872 vehicles in 2011. 1,993 or 9.4 percent of vehicles were placed OOS for brake adjustment (8.4 percent in 2011, 8.9 percent in 2010).

1,664 or 7.8 percent of vehicles were placed OOS for brake components (7.9 percent in 2011, 8.0 percent in 2010).

3,248 or 15.3 percent of vehicles were placed OOS for brakes overall (14.2 percent in 2011, 13.5 percent in 2010).

Over 2.6 million brakes have been inspected in the 15 years since the program’s inception.


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