Faulty Brakes: The Greatest Hazard for Heavy Vehicles

Brakes are confirmed as a critical point in the safety of vehicles travelling across Spain. According to recent data from AECA-ITV, the association representing Vehicle Technical Inspection stations, a concerning 12% of defects detected during inspections are directly related to the braking system.

The situation is particularly alarming in the heavy and transport vehicle segment. Trailers and semi-trailers, vans and trucks over 3,500 kg, as well as buses and coaches, show a higher proportion of brake failures during the ITV.

"These figures are especially worrying, as we see that vehicles with the worst brake conditions are those transporting goods and collective transport, which means that due to their characteristics in terms of mass, dimensions, and manoeuvrability, in the event of a road accident, the impact and injury are usually greater both for the occupants of these vehicles and for other road users. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the ITV is up to date and to guarantee that these vehicles operate under safe and environmentally protective conditions," stated Guillermo Magaz, managing director of AECA-ITV.

Data from the DGT shows that although the truck fleet represents only 7% of the total vehicles, it constitutes the second largest group of vehicles on our roads. This further highlights the importance of ensuring they operate safely.

AECA-ITV has compiled some photographs taken by inspectors from more than 400 ITV centres across the country, highlighting the brake conditions with which some vehicles present themselves at inspection centres aiming to pass the ITV.

The images show, for instance, a brake disc with material deficiency, others clearly depict how the vehicle is losing brake fluid, and also show improvised fixations of a compressed air tank of an industrial vehicle's brake system or a fractured brake disc.