One of the most critical components in a large commercial vehicle like a semi-truck is the braking system. Faulty or poorly-maintained brakes on large trucks can pose serious dangers to everyone sharing the road with these vehicles. What should you know about the part that brake failure can play in accidents?
Well-maintained braking systems are a vital part of truck safety.
Because semi-trucks are much bigger and heavier than cars, they need more time and distance to stop. A loaded semi-truck travels 196 feet before coming to a complete stop at highway speeds, in fact. This makes it especially important for manufacturers that make these trucks and the companies that use them to ensure the brakes are safe and well-maintained.
Unfortunately, many vehicles on the road today have serious issues with their braking system despite safety regulations. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual North American Brake Safety Week for 2024 found that many commercial vehicles have serious brake-related issues. In fact, nearly 13 percent of trucks inspected during this event had brake issues that made them unsafe to operate.
The risks of brake failure
Any issues in the braking system can leave the truck unable to avoid hazards or other vehicles. Some common issues caused by brake system failure include:
- Increased stopping distance: Trucks can take longer to stop if their brake systems have issues like worn-out brake pads, low brake fluid levels or air leaks in brake lines. This can be particularly dangerous in situations where the truck needs to stop suddenly.
- Loss of control: Faulty brakes can cause a truck to skid or lose control, especially on wet or slippery roads. This can cause the truck’s trailer to swing out and hit other vehicles or things on the side of the road.
- Rollaway accidents: Poorly maintained brakes are also a risk factor for rollaway accidents, where an unattended truck starts moving on its own due to gravitational pull. This type of incident can occur if the parking brakes are ineffective because of maintenance issues.
- Multi-vehicle collisions: Given the size and weight of large trucks, a brake failure can lead to multi-vehicle collisions, causing significant damage and injury to people in multiple vehicles.
When brake problems cause truck accidents, injured people can hold carrier companies, manufacturers and others involved responsible. This makes it very important for everyone who drives near these large trucks to understand how brake failures can lead to serious accidents.