Operation Safe Driver Week - A week of  intensified traffic safety enforcement is here!  

Operation Safe Driver Week was launched in 2007 by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and with the support from industry and transportation organizations. The program was established to help reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving various motor vehicles, including commercial trucks, buses, and cars.  

During Operation Safe Driver Week, scheduled for July 10-16, 2022, law enforcement members will focus on commercial vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers who are driving dangerously. Examples of dangerous driving behaviors include speeding, driving while using a mobile device, driving aggressively, cutting off other drivers, following too closely, etc. Drivers identified by law enforcement officers for engaging in unsafe driving behaviors will be issued a warning or citation.

Data shows traffic stops, and law enforcement interactions help reduce problematic driving behaviors. By contacting with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.

The goals of Operation Safe Driver Week include:

• Alter drivers’ unsafe driving behaviors by having a high-visibility law enforcement presence on our roadways
• Change bad driving habits long-term through interactions with law enforcement
• Provide commercial motor vehicle driver education and awareness programs to the motor carrier population
• Reduce the number of crashes on our roadways

The focus area for this year's Operation Safe Driver Week is speeding!

Speeding is a major factor in traffic deaths and injuries.

• In 2019, there were 9,478 fatal crashes in the U.S. where at least one driver was speeding, 26% of total traffic fatalities for the year
• Twenty-seven percent of traffic fatalities on Canadian roads in 2020 were the direct result of speeding
• In Mexico, in 2019, 15% of road crashes on the federal highway network were
  attributed to excessive speed

What should Motor Carriers and drivers do to have a successful Operation Safe Driver Week and maximize safety?

Private Fleet or Motor Carrier:

• Inform drivers about Operation Safe Driver Week and what to expect to ensure fleet safety
• Ensure that full compliance to all DOT regulations is being met
• Educate drivers on DOT transportation regulations and company policy and procedures
• Repair items noted on vehicle inspection reports and roadside inspections
• Discuss safety compliance and safe operations to drivers

Drivers:

• Always enforce the rules of the road and buckle up
• Pre-inspect the condition of the vehicle, ensure the load is secure and mirrors are adjusted properly
• Obey speed limits and traffic signs.  Slow down in bad weather conditions and when driving in construction zones
• Maintain a safe following distance and check mirrors constantly
• Make safe lane changes, only as necessary
• Focus on driving and avoid or minimize truck distractions such as eating, etc.
• Be fit for duty, never drive under the influence and be sure to get enough sleep before driving.

Click here for more information on Operation Safe Driver Week, July 10-16, 2022

Click here more information about CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver program.