NTSB Truck Driving Safety Recommendations

ntsb.gov, Dec 09, 2005

In accidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, numerous brake deficiencies are cited as causal or contributing ,factors., Although the Safety Board has recommended changes to address these recurring problems,
brake system deficiencies continue to be factors in accidents. In 1989, the Safety Board began a study to determine the effectiveness of airbrake s stems on heavy problems, and makes recommendations that address the systemic problems
associated with heavy vehicle brake-related accidents.

The Safety Board investigated 189 heavy truck accidents from 1985 through 19872 and found that brake-related evidence was often altered after an accident investigations of 182 heavy truck accidents during 1987 and 1988 identified the same problem.3 Often, slack adjusters on some or all springbrake-equipped axles were completely "backed off," or altered, to more easily move wrecked vehicles, lri some cases, investigators found that wrecker drivers were unfamiliar with the practice of "caging"4 springbrakes arid thus uniritentionally destroying valuable evidence when they altered the brake adjustment,.

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency with statutory responsibility "to promote transportation safety by conducting independert acciderit investigations a rid by form u lati rig safety irnprovemen t
recommendations" (Public Law 93-633) The Safety Board is vitally interested in any action taken as a result of i t s safety recommendations. Therefore, it would appreciate a response frorn you regarding action taken or contemplated with respect t o the recommendation in this letter,. Please refer t o Safety Recommendation H-92-63 in your reply.