Brake Safety Week, slated for late August, will proceed as scheduled, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

CVSA’s annual event will take place August 23rd through 29th as a part of law enforcement’s efforts to reduce brake-related crashes and remove unsafe commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) from the roadways.

How is this different than any other time of the year?

Throughout the year, law enforcement checks brake components as a part of the roadside inspection process. However, during this year’s enforcement campaign, roadside inspectors will pay special attention to hoses and tubing. Brake Safety Week 2020 will be used to highlight the importance of these brake components.

The week-long event is a part of the greater Brake Safety Awareness Month. During August, law enforcement will provide outreach materials to drivers, motor carriers, mechanics, and others on the importance of properly maintained brakes.

Importance of brake safety

A CMV’s brake components must work together to slow and stop a vehicle. If the brake hoses/tubing are not working properly, it can affect the entire braking system and create a safety issue.

To function properly, hoses and tubing must be:

• Properly attached
• Without damage and leaks
• Flexible

When roadside inspectors identify critical out-of-service brake violations, the vehicle cannot be operated until the defects are repaired. During last year’s Brake Safety Week, officers placed 13.5 percent of the CMVs they inspected out of service due to brake-related vehicle violations.

Vehicles that pass the vehicle portion of an eligible roadside inspection may receive a CVSA decal.