Tucson Truck Accident Lawyer

To assist roadside enforcement personnel in the decision as to whether a commercial vehicle and/or its driver are road-safe there is a new set of criteria published by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).  These new guidelines may affect the outcome of a lawsuit in the event of an accident involved in an accident.

As of April 1, 2011, the following changes go into effect:

• Defective Brakes — If a single brake pad or lining isn’t fully functional, that brake is deemed defective.    According to the CVSA this problem often is the result of subpar repairs or improper parts.
• Medical Certificates — Valid medical certificates are required for drivers of passenger vehicles
• Diesel Exhaust in Cabs — In addition to gas leaks, now diesel exhaust fumes leaking into the cab/sleeper constitute an OOS condition.
• Low Air Pressure Warning Device — To meet the new requirements this device must operate continuously if the primary or secondary reservoir is either:
  a) 55 psi or below, or
  b) at half of the governor cut-out pressure (whichever’s less).
• Tractor Protection Valve Failure –  A vehicle will be considered OOS if either  1) the trailer supply valve doesn’t close before pressure drops below 20 psi in the primary or secondary system , or 2) air escapes from either gladhand when brakes are applied after the tractor protection valve has closed.
• Air Tanks —A vehicle will be non-standard if an air tank is separated at either end from the attachment points and can move more than an inch in any direction.
• Tires Touching the Vehicle — A vehicle will be OOS if the tire contacts another part of the vehicle during an inspection.
• Tiedown Placement — Under the CVSA standards there must be a tiedown for every 10 feet of cargo, but they need not be tied in every 10-foot section.

There are many important changes in the 2011 North American Standard Out-of-Service (OOS) Criteria.  What is most noteworthy change are the standards for taking vehicles off the road.  Under the new provisions once a motor vehicle is OOS, it may not be driven until its safety defects are fixed.  If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a truck accident, contact a professional Chicago truck accident attorney.