Due to their massive size and weight, it is essential for large commercial vehicles to have working brake systems. Defective or poorly maintained brakes can make it significantly difficult for large trucks to stop when they need to, putting other drivers and their passengers at risk.
How can defective or poorly-maintained brakes cause accidents?
One of the most immediate dangers of defective brakes is increased stopping distance. When brakes do not function well, the truck needs more space to come to a complete stop. This delay can be catastrophic, especially in situations where they need to stop quickly to avoid hitting something.
Poorly maintained brakes can lead to uneven braking, where one side of the truck stops more effectively than the other. This can make the truck skid or jackknife, causing serious accidents.
In some situations, brakes can completely fail. A semi-truck with no working brakes can be very dangerous to other vehicles, people walking and things around it because it may strike them at high speeds.
Maintenance issues are more common on the roads than you may think
Despite regulations that require carrier companies to regularly inspect and maintain vehicles, many trucks on American roads have brake problems that go unresolved. During the 2024 Brake Safety Week, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance found that almost 13 percent of the trucks checked had brake issues that should have taken them off the road.
Drivers should keep these risks in mind
It is important for everyone on the road to know about the risk of brake-related trucking accidents. Drivers should take care around these large vehicles and understand their rights if a serious accident does occur.