What Is A Jake Brake? (and Why They’re Illegal)
Near residential districts along busy trucking routes, particularly in front of a traffic light, signs that state “Trucks Please No Jake Brake” or “No Jake Brakes Within City Limits” are commonplace. These signs are not uncommon. You may have come upon one and pondered the meaning of what it signified. As a result of their lack of familiarity with the vocabulary associated with large rigs, many individuals are unaware of what this implies or how it impacts them.
A Jake brake is what exactly? “Jake Brake” is a term that describes compression-release engine brakes. It is a feature that is found on big diesel-powered vehicles such as semi-trailers. It works by gradually reducing the speed of the vehicle by releasing the compressed air that is contained inside the engine via the exhaust valves. This produces a loud noise.
Even if you may not have been aware of the term “Jake braking” in the past, you may have heard it quite often in mountainous regions and on high-speed highways that include traffic lights. The origin of the phrase, the reason why eighteen-wheelers need compression release engine brakes, the question of whether or not Jake braking is legal, the reason why we put up signs against them, and whether or not there are any hazards involved with utilizing them are all topics that we will investigate.
Can You Please Explain the Origin of the Name “Jake Brake”?
Jacobs Vehicle Systems was the company that first created the compression-release engine brake, which is where the name originates from. In the beginning, it was known as the Jacobs Engine Brake Retarder. Since this was the case, the name of the first version was abbreviated and became known as the Jacob Brake. Because of this, the moniker eventually evolved into the Jake brake.
Clessie Lyle Cummins came up with the idea in 1957 to enhance the safety of semi-trucks on highways. The concept was to develop a brake mechanism that would lessen the risk of fires and overheating that may occur as a result of huge, heavy trucks falling on very steep sections of road while traveling downhill.
For what reason do trucks have Jake brakes?
Because semi-tractor-trailers have a large number of wheels, they also have a large number of braking system components. The weight that they bear is likewise rather substantial. Therefore, all of those brakes have to slow down a big rig that is traveling quickly, which results in a significant amount of friction.
Attempting to maintain a safe and regulated pace while driving down a mountain would put a significant amount of wear and tear on the brakes of an eighteen-wheeler. Imagine for a moment if they did not need to use a brake that applied friction to slow down their car; rather, all they needed to do was take their foot off the gas pedal for the engine to slow down on its own.
This is the kind of thing that the compression-release engine brake is intended to do.
If the driver takes their foot off the gas pedal while the Jake brake is engaged, the piston at the top of the cylinder is subjected to the accumulation of compressed air. The fact that the exhaust vent is open implies that the pressure prevents the piston from providing power to the crankshaft during the downstroke. In other words, the engine itself generates drag on the wheels, which causes the rig to move at a slower speed.
Therefore, if you slow down the car without pressing the brakes, the temperature on the brakes will remain low, and the brake pads will continue to stay cushioned for another day. A reduction in the length of time required to get the vehicle to the desired lower speed (or to a complete stop) is another benefit of this change. Unfortunately, everybody in the vicinity may hear it since it is really loud and annoying.
Does Jake Brakes violate any laws?
To be more specific, municipalities in the United States of America, Canada, and Australia have begun to place notices in locations where citizens are dissatisfied with the very loud exhaust noise that is linked with Jake braking.
On the other hand, while there are signs posted in specific locations that prohibit Jake braking (also known as engine braking), it is not banned everywhere. The cities are responsible for collaborating with the state government to determine the extent of their authority to enact laws that prohibit it.
As an example, in the year 2004, the state of New York concluded that “villages” did not have control of the roads held by the state, and as a result, they were unable to establish rules that prohibited the use of engine brakes.
On the other hand, jurisdictions such as Chesterfield, Missouri (2016) now have the authority to enact legislation that prohibits Jake breaking and imposes a fine of up to $500 and a maximum of ninety days in prison for violators.
When it comes to avoiding getting into trouble, the easiest method for a truck driver to do so is to keep an eye out for signs. Regarding the desires of the local population, it is essential to show respect.
If there is a specific stretch of road where the regulations seem to be a barrier to the safety of semi-truck drivers, you should submit a letter to the council board of the local community with your case. In addition to ensuring that the roads are safe and that everyone’s opinion is heard, a truck driver needs to comply with all regulations to avoid being penalized.
Why Are There Signs That Say “No Jake Brakes”?
Several areas have noise by-laws that limit the usage of Jake brakes. This is the reason why you are likely to come across signage near a certain slope or traffic light. If a local government has established that there is a need to suppress noise pollution, whether it be for the benefit of the community or the protection of animal habitats, they will post a notice.
This has caused a great deal of frustration for a great number of truck drivers, who have reported signs on roadways in which the speed limit lowers from 55 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour without any prior notice, and then all of a sudden there is a sign that says “Please No Jake Brakes.” When it comes to slowing down their very massive and heavy trucks, they believe that utilizing ordinary brakes is less safe than using emergency brakes.
However, attempts have been made to address this dissatisfaction with several different municipal administrations. Truck drivers are often able to influence a board with a safety argument, while homeowners may battle for signs to be implemented so that they are not woken up in the middle of the night by the loud blasts that sound like horns coming from trucks that are attempting to slow down to residential speed as fast as possible.
If you find yourself in a scenario where you must make a decision, keep in mind that all sides of the debate have valid points of view. To determine a solution that will result in a compromise, it is worthwhile to have the conversation. It’s possible that this is a warning sign for a change in the speed limit, or it may be a sign like “No Jake Brakes.”
Case Studies of Signage
Because “Jake break” is a nickname for the compression release engine brake, and because it is a lengthy-term, the language on the signs varies quite a bit. This is because the name is fairly lengthy. This is a selection of examples:
- There are no Jake brakes.
- Prohibition on the Use of Compression Braking
- Restrictions on the use of brake retarders and engine brakes
- Without a muffler Not Allowed to Use Compression Brakes
It is even possible to create modifications based on these examples. The purpose of the lists before this one is to demonstrate the variety of available names.
Are There Any Dangers Involved with Utilizing a Jake System?
When the engine is at the working temperature and the required amount of oil is present, Jake’s brakes are safe enough to operate in dry weather. On the other hand, some circumstances are not ideal for making use of employing them.
When driving on a slick road, the most dangerous condition for jake-braking is an accident. If a truck driver engages the compression release engine brake without having their rig in a completely straight position, they run the danger of jackknifing, regardless of whether the road is wet or icy. Nevertheless, this is the only significant danger that truck driver has when they use a Jake brake of any kind.
The majority of individuals believe that the danger that Jake’s brakes pose is when impolite truck drivers utilize the loud noise to frighten other people. The majority of the public has a very negative perception of the safety function as a consequence of the many reports of Jake braking to frighten pedestrians, bikers, and even young children. These reports have led to the widespread disapproval of the safety feature.
Conclusion
But in mountainous regions with speed changes, compression-release engine brakes, often known as “Jake brakes,” can be the greatest method for a truck driver to slow down their rig without putting additional wear and tear on their brakes. They are noisy and, to be honest, sort of obnoxious. This is particularly true if you live near a highway. On the other hand, unless there is a sign that prohibits them from doing it, they are free to do it.