Patrol to conduct education and enforcement
effort for commercial vehicles during
Brake Safety Awareness Week

COLUMBUS – Brake-related defects continue to be the most significant and frequent violations that safety inspectors discover during roadside inspections of commercial vehicles. In 2006, there were 11,806 brake-related out-of-service violations on commercial vehicles in Ohio resulting from inspections conducted by Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)-certified inspectors.

Brake Safety Awareness Week, which runs August 26 through September 1, is an international program to better educate commercial drivers on the importance of proper brake safety. CVSA-certified inspectors from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) will be at select truck stops to answer questions and hand out information on brake safety to help educate commercial drivers on proper brake operation, and the need for properly maintained brakes. They will also conduct special roadside brake enforcement inspections throughout Ohio.

“We want to reduce the number of highway crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial vehicles through education and outreach to drivers, mechanics and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation,” Colonel Richard H. Collins, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent, said. “These activities are intended to educate drivers on the importance of proper brake operation.”

Braking systems on commercial vehicles are complicated and contain many parts, all of which need constant inspection and attention to ensure proper operation and performance. For that reason, this initiative places a major emphasis on increasing drivers’ and motor carriers’ knowledge of brake compliance and vehicle brake performance; and encourages commercial vehicle brake system inspections.

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Note to editors: Please contact your local post for more information on specific locations that inspectors will be available to inspect and educate commercial drivers.

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