FACTS

1. A study led by the Department of Transportation found that brake-related issues are especially common in accidents that involve large trucks and semis.
2. In nearly one-third of truck accidents, brake failure, improper brake adjustments and other braking issues were causative factors.
3. Other mechanical failures causing accidents include:

• Defective parts and equipment
• Faulty, weak, mismatched or improperly inflated tires
• Broken taillights or turn signals
• Damaged brake lines
• Defective brake components
• Worn steering mechanisms
• Shifting cargo and improper loading

STATS

• Federal statistics show that mechanical failure plays a role in 12 percent of all motor vehicle accidents.
• Tire failure is of the most common causes of a car crash due to mechanical failure. According to NHTSA surveys, tires and wheel-related problems were responsible for 35% of all accidents due to mechanical failure.

California Experience

• According to the California Highway Patrol’s Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions, defective lights cause 51 injury crashes and two fatalities per year on average.
• Defective brakes cause 306 injury crashes annually. More than 90 injury crashes and 2.4 fatalities are attributed to other equipment failures. In accidents caused by commercial truck drivers in California, equipment failure is responsible for 12 injury crashes each year.