Staying Safe on the Road: National Traffic Awareness Month & Brake Safety Week

National Traffic Awareness Month in August emphasizes the importance of traffic safety for drivers, pedestrians and passengers. Every day hundreds of people become victims of avoidable vehicle accidents due to lapses in safety and awareness on the road.

We also observe Brake Safety Week, August 24-30. This annual initiative is led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and focuses on inspecting commercial vehicle brake systems to identify potential violations and enhance road safety. This year’s campaign will have a particular emphasis on brake drums and rotors.

National Traffic Awareness Month – Prevent Major and Minor Accidents

Stop-and-go traffic on highways is one of the most common environments for traffic accidents, which is particularly concerning for commercial drivers who spend a significant portion of their time on these roads. With higher speed limits and the added responsibility of transporting heavy loads, commercial drivers must always prioritize road safety.

Commercial drivers are fundamental to the economy. However, this comes with its own set of risks. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large commercial trucks are involved in nine percent of all fatal crashes and more than 100,000+ injury crashes last year. Although these stats are concerning, PTP Transport works diligently to educate, advance safety protocols and reward drivers for their awareness and safety excellence.

Three Tips to Avoid Stop-and-Go Traffic Distractions

Brake Safety Week – What This Means for Drivers

During Brake Safety Week, law enforcement in the U.S. will conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections, educate drivers and motor carriers about the importance of brake safety and provide brake inspection and violation data.

CVSA-certified inspectors will focus on brake systems and components, with a special emphasis on drums and rotors. Broken pieces of drums and rotors can become dislodged from the vehicle while driving, which can cause damage to other vehicles and result in injuries or fatalities to the public. Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations, or any other out-of-service violations, will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected. CVSA also offers resources to help drivers, motor carriers, owner-operators and mechanics prepare for Brake Safety Week.

Be Prepared for Stops and Inspections

PTP Cares About Our Drivers’ Safety

All PTP drivers participate in our employee safety training program. Safety is emphasized as a key component in our success and helps ensure each load (and driver) arrives at its destination in a safe and timely fashion.

Join the PTP family and apply on our website today!