The Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) took part in a national campaign aimed at bringing attention to brake safety.
Last week, the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) participated in Brake Safety Week. The event took place September 9-14, 2013. The biannual campaign is spearheaded by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which is a non-profit organization consisting of federal, territorial, provincial, state, and local officials from the motor carrier safety industry as well as, industry representatives from across North America.
MCCD ramped up inspection of truck and bus brake systems at sites along major highways throughout the State
During this week, MCCD partnered with commercial vehicle inspection officers throughout the country in order to encourage truck and bus brake safety. To this end MCCD conducted an enforcement and outreach campaign. According to Major Gene Davis of MCCD, Brake Safety Week brings awareness to both safety and security issues related to brake operation. Throughout the week, commercial vehicle inspection officers performed inspections at various locations along the major highways in Georgia. The commercial vehicle inspection officers issued service orders where they determined a commercial vehicle or a driver posed a safety hazard.
Brake safety initiatives are part of MCCD’s daily activities, but this week provides an opportunity to place special attention on the issue.
Major Davis emphasized that MCCD’s has brake safety enforcement strategies that it implements on a daily basis. He explained that the purpose of Brake Safety Week is to place a special emphasis on how commercial vehicle inspections as well as, driver safety inspections that are conducted throughout the year save lives. However, it is not the only time of the year which MCCD places attention on this important issue.
Brake system malfunctions are particularly fatal in motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks
Every year, there are approximately 5,000 fatal trucking accidents across the country. In addition, nearly 130,000 injuries are attributed to trucking accidents every year. About 70 percent of these accidents occur in rural areas such as Southwest Georgia. Trucking accidents often cause more serve injuries and are more likely to result in fatalities than motor vehicle accidents involving passenger vehicles due to their size and weight. Break failure is one of leading causes of motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks. This is why it is so important for commercial trucks to have fully functioning brake systems while they are traveling on roadways.
The end of Brake Safety Week marks the start of U.S. Truck Driver Appreciation Week
This week, September 15-21, 2013, marks U.S. Truck Driver Appreciation Week. This event provides an opportunity to shed light on the more than three million truck drivers who work to securely delivery fright throughout the country on a daily basis. According to the American Trucking Association, commercial truck drivers log about 398 billion miles annually.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, or if your loved one have been killed in an automobile accident, you should contact an attorneyimmediately.