New Mexico truck drivers may have heard about the Brake Safety Day that took place on May 3 and was sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. It was an unannounced event that resulted in 9,524 inspections in 33 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Of the trucks inspected, 1,989 were taken out of service, and of those, 1,146 were taken out of service because of brake violations.
Overall, brake-related issues are the most common reason why trucks are taken out of service during roadside inspections. During the May 3 event, there were 4,635 trucks that were determined to need ABS systems by law. Of those trucks, roughly 8 percent were taken out of service because of ABS violations. The next Brake Safety Day has been announced for Sept. 7.
Both truck drivers and truck owners may be responsible for ensuring that a commercial vehicle is safe to drive. Drivers may are also responsible for ensuring that they do not drive while tired, impaired or distracted. If an accident occurs involving a commercial vehicle, the driver as well as the trucking company could be held financially responsible for any damages an injured victim incurs if negligence can be demonstrated.
For instance, if the truck owner knew that the driver was operating a truck while drunk or without proper training, that would likely be negligence on the part of the owner. Injured victims may be entitled to compensation for their medical bills as well as for any lost wages or future earnings. Furthermore, they may be entitled to compensation to replace their vehicle or other property that may have been damaged or destroyed in an accident.
