Stop right there! Brake Safety Week is near

Drum and rotor focus

The focus this year is on drums and rotors. Brake drum and rotor issues can have a serious negative impact on a vehicle’s brake efficiency. There’s the possibility that broken pieces of drums and rotors can become dislodged from the vehicle enroute and damage other vehicles or lead to injuries or fatalities to the public. Inspectors will be on the lookout for any drum or rotor issues to help keep roadways safer.

What you need to know about inspections

CVSA-certified inspectors will perform routine inspections on commercial vehicles from August 23–29 with a special focus on brake components and systems. Some jurisdictions will also use performance-based brake testers (PBBT) to help assess a vehicle’s braking performance.

If an inspector finds any commercial vehicle with brake-related out-of-service violations, that vehicle will be removed from roads until the violations are corrected.

Stay proactive

Brake Safety Week helps remind drivers and motor carriers to keep up with proactive vehicle maintenance and safety procedures. Law enforcement use this opportunity to highlight the importance of brake safety and offer some educational outreach.

To help prepare for this year’s Brake Safety Week event, the CVSA recommends:

• Learning about the different vehicle components checked during inspection, and
• Viewing the inspection procedure to know what to expect at https://www.cvsa.org/programs/operation-airbrake/operation-airbrake-inspection-procedure/.

A flyer with brake drum and rotor tips to help avoid violations is also available at https://www.cvsa.org/programs/operation-airbrake/focus-area/.