A Win for Motorists: Brake Safety Day Ends With 500 Unsafe Trucks Pulled Off the Road

Brake Safety Day 2024 brought significant results in protecting motorists across the nation. This annual event is part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) efforts to ensure trucks on the road meet critical safety standards. This year, the focus on brake systems led to over 500 commercial trucks being removed from service due to brake-related violations, highlighting the need for ongoing safety enforcement to prevent accidents. Read on to learn more about this victory for traffic safety. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash with a big rig in Orange County or the Hudson Valley, contact Dupée & Monroe, P.C., for help from a team of experienced and successful Goshen truck accident lawyers.

What Is Brake Safety Day?

Brake Safety Day is an initiative by the CVSA, where commercial motor vehicle inspectors across North America conduct inspections to identify trucks with critical brake violations. The inspections are designed to catch issues before they lead to accidents, especially since faulty brakes are one of the leading causes of commercial truck accidents. The program aims to enhance roadway safety by ensuring that trucks have properly functioning brakes, protecting both the drivers of 18-wheelers and other large vehicles and the occupants of passenger cars who share the road with them.

The Results of Brake Safety Day

During this year’s event, inspectors conducted a total of 4,898 inspections. Of those, 570 trucks were immediately taken off the road due to critical brake-related violations. That’s over ten percent of vehicles inspected that were found too unsafe to be on the road for one more minute. The main violation the inspectors identified is what is known as a 20% violation, which means that 20% or more of the vehicle’s service brakes had an out-of-service violation. Over half of the trucks pulled from service (330) suffered from this defective brake condition.

Other brake violations affecting 256 big rigs included broken drums, air and hydraulic fluid leaks, worn-out brake lines and hoses, and defects rendering critical systems like tractor protection and low-air warning devices inoperative. Another 73 commercial vehicles were pulled from service due to steering-related brake violations.

Why Brake Safety Matters

Trucks with inadequate braking systems pose a severe risk to others on the road, particularly on the busy highways and local roads in the Hudson Valley. Poorly maintained brakes can significantly increase stopping distances, especially in adverse weather conditions, making rear-end collisions, jackknifing, and other serious accidents more likely.

The results of Brake Safety Day underscore the importance of regular maintenance and stringent inspection protocols for large commercial trucks. Trucks that do not meet safety standards are a danger to all motorists, and removing unsafe vehicles from the road helps protect everyone.

For drivers in Orange County and the Hudson Valley, encountering commercial trucks is part of everyday life. These trucks transport goods across the region, contributing to the economy but also increasing the risk of traffic accidents. The size and weight of these vehicles make any accident involving them potentially devastating.

Brake-related issues are particularly dangerous because a truck’s ability to stop or slow down effectively is crucial in preventing accidents. Even a minor defect can make it impossible for a driver to avoid a collision, resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for other drivers and passengers. By pulling trucks with defective brakes off the road, law enforcement agencies reduce the likelihood of catastrophic accidents.

How Truck Accidents Impact Orange County Motorists

In areas like Goshen, Newburgh, and Middletown, truck traffic is constant. The proximity of major interstates like I-87 and I-84 means that large trucks frequently travel through Orange County. Unfortunately, when these trucks are involved in accidents, the consequences can be dire. Due to their sheer size, commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities, especially when brake systems fail to perform correctly.

Many truck accident victims in the Hudson Valley suffer long-term or permanent consequences, affecting their ability to work, care for their families, and enjoy daily life. For these individuals, holding negligent parties accountable is essential for obtaining compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What to Do if You’re Injured in a Truck Accident

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident with a commercial truck in the Hudson Valley, seeking legal advice is crucial. Trucking companies and their insurance providers will often try to minimize their liability or offer a quick, lowball settlement, making it difficult for accident victims to recover the compensation they deserve. However, with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you can build a strong case for compensation.

At Dupée & Monroe, P.C., our team understands the complexities of truck accident cases. We know how to investigate crashes involving brake failure and other maintenance issues to determine who is responsible. Whether the trucking company failed to maintain its vehicles, or a manufacturer provided defective parts, we work tirelessly to hold all negligent parties accountable.

Brake Safety Is Key to Safer Roads

The results of this year’s Brake Safety Day are a reminder that vigilance in commercial truck maintenance saves lives. As 570 unsafe trucks are taken off the road, the risk to motorists in Orange County and the Hudson Valley decreases. However, the battle for safer roads is ongoing, and it’s essential for trucking companies to remain compliant with safety regulations to protect all drivers. It’s important to note that only a small fraction of all commercial vehicles were inspected, so the magnitude of the actual problem can only be estimated but is no doubt significant.

Contact Dupée & Monroe After a Truck Accident in Goshen or the Hudson Valley

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Orange County or the Hudson Valley, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys of Dupée & Monroe, P.C. in Goshen at 845-294-8900 for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to helping injury victims throughout the Hudson Valley get the compensation they need to move forward after a serious accident.