Commercial vehicle inspections happening during Brake Safety Week

Commercial vehicle safety officers in Prince Edward Island will conduct brake inspections at the Borden-Carleton highway scales during Brake Safety Week August 24-30, to boost road safety. 

The campaign aims to reduce roadway collisions by inspecting brakes and educating drivers, mechanics, and motor carriers, on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.

“Brake Safety Week serves as a strong reminder of how vital highway safety is. By conducting these brake inspections locally for commercial vehicles, we are making our roadways safer for these drivers and all Island motorists by reducing highway collisions.”

— Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Ernie Hudson

This year the campaign focuses specifically on the condition of brake drums and rotors. According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), brake drum and rotor issues may significantly affect vehicle brake efficiency. The results of PEI’s inspections will be shared with CVSA to help measure compliance with the rules.

Commercial vehicles found to have brake-related, out-of-service violations will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.

CVSA is a nonprofit organization that brings together government and industry to improve commercial vehicle safety through collaboration, education, and safety enforcement.  

Media contact:
Dan Hodgson 
Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
danmhodgson@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder:

• Brake-related violations make up the largest percentage of all out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections.
• Data from previous years shows that brake adjustment issues, worn brake components, air system leaks, contaminated brake components and damaged brake lines are among the most-frequently cited violations during Brake Safety Week inspections.
   
• Keeping the following tips in mind will help ensure brake drums and rotors are road-ready:
  • Include drum and rotor inspections in both pre-trip and post-trip routines.
  • Look for cracks or missing chunks on friction surfaces.
  • Watch for heavily rusted rotors - which usually mean brakes aren’t effective.
  • Inspect and measure brake drum and rotor grooves to ensure they meet manufacturer specifications—grooved rotors indicate worn pads and require repair.
  • Always follow manufacturer repair guidelines when fixing drums or rotors.
  • Drivers should report what they find and file it in their vehicle inspection reports.