This week is Operation Safe Driver Week, an awareness and outreach initiative by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
From July 9-15, law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be looking for commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving. Examples of dangerous driving behaviors include speeding, driving while using a mobile device, driving aggressively, cutting off other drivers, and following too closely.
A significant emphasis will be placed this year on deterring speeding. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, with speed contributing to one in four crash deaths. Distracted driving claims more than 3,000 lives annually.
Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce unsafe driving, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
Officers issued 1,490 citations and 2,577 warnings to commercial vehicle drivers during Safe Driver Week 2022.
See also: NHTSA: Traffic fatalities down for fourth consecutive quarter
A statement from the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board encouraged all drivers to engage in safe driving practices and share the road ahead of Safe Driver Week.
“Unsafe drivers endanger their own lives as well as the lives of others,” said Fred Fakkema, chairman of LEAB and VP of safety and compliance for Zonar Systems. “Law enforcement professionals are on alert every minute of every day to help prevent collisions by pulling over distracted or aggressive drivers. Operation Safe Driver Week helps to elevate the issue of safety and gives all drivers an opportunity to reflect on how they can be a part of the solution to safer roads.”
ATA established LEAB in 2021 to help strengthen the ties between the trucking industry and law enforcement community and better align resources toward the common goal of promoting safety on the nation’s roadways. LEAB is comprised of ATA members with experience in federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as retired and active law enforcement officials who serve or have served in the CMV domain.
“As a former CVSA president, I know what an important role Operation Safe Driver Week plays in ensuring the safety of everyone on the road,” said Mark Savage, first vice chair of LEAB and director of connected truck solutions at Drivewyze. “The vast majority of fleets already take safety very seriously, and for most, this will just be business as usual. The larger patrol presence drivers will see next week will help reinforce safe driving practices and target those who fail to obey the rules of the road.”
