Brake Safety Week 2024 is just around the corner. The annual event, which is part of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Operation Airbrake program, is scheduled for August 25-31 with a focus on the condition of brake linings and pads. Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating.

Brake Safety Week aims to reduce brake-related crashes by conducting roadside inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways.

During Brake Safety Week, CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. highlight the importance of brake systems by conducting North American Standard Level I and V Inspections of commercial motor vehicles and drivers at fixed weigh stations, temporary pop-up inspection sites and during roving roadway patrols, paying special attention to brake components and systems. Vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from the roadways until those violations are corrected. Commercial vehicles that pass eligible inspections may receive a passed-inspection CVSA decal.

Participating jurisdictions will capture and report data on the inspections and this year’s special focus area, brake lining/pad violations, to the CVSA. Brake Safety Week results will be released in the fall.

Brake-related violations account for the largest percentage of all out-of-service vehicle violations cited during roadside inspections. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's 2023 vehicle violation data, six out of the top 20 vehicle violations were brake-related.

Of the 4,898 commercial motor vehicles that were inspected throughout North America during CVSA’s unannounced Brake Safety Day on April 30th, 570—or 11.6%—were found to have brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations. Additionally, brake-system violations was the top vehicle violation during last year’s CVSA International Roadcheck, representing 25.2 % of all vehicle out-of-service violations in that three-day roadside inspection data collection.

With Brake Safety Week quickly approaching, motor carriers and drivers are reminded to proactively check and service their vehicles’ braking systems to help maximize stopping power and ensure a positive experience during an inspection. CVSA has created a 2024 Brake Safety Week flyer with 10 brake lining and pad tips for drivers/operators to avoid violations. The flyer can be downloaded in English, French or Spanish.