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Brake Safety Week focuses on trucks and buses

We have noted in a number of our posts that semi trucks are the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Their size may be helpful in transporting large quantities of goods from region to region across New York and the northeast, but they also post a danger to common motorists. For instance, the average size of a semi truck is 20,000 tons (i.e. 40,000 pounds), where a car may weigh in at 3,000 pounds.

That does not bode well for those in passenger vehicles. Because of this danger, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sponsored national Brake Safety Week. The purpose is to make sure that trucks and buses across the nation are in compliance with national safety rules. According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, braking violations make up the largest portion of out-of-service violations found during roadside inspections. 

Properly functioning braking systems should be of the utmost importance for truck drivers, trucking companies, law enforcement agencies and the public alike. After all, if a large vehicle has trouble slowing down and stopping, it is an accident waiting to happen. As such, state and federal officials conducted safety checks to identify loose or missing parts, worn brake pads, rotors and drums, as well as potential problems with hydraulic fluid.

Also, the checks will put trucking companies and their drivers on notice of the duty to ensure that their equipment is in good working order. If a company fails to make expected repairs, and a braking problem leads to an accident, the company could be held liable. 

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