CVSA's Operation Safe Driver Week to Focus on Speeding

In July, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for drivers engaging in dangerous driving behaviors as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Operation Safe Driver Week. This year's event, which runs July 14-20, will include a special focus on speeding.

"For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in nearly one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities," said CVSA President Chief Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police. "That is unacceptable, especially because it's preventable. We will continue to educate the public on the dangers of speeding, and we will identify individuals who are speeding on our roadways and may issue citations as a deterrent to future speeding tendencies and to affect driver behavior."

In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. During last year's Operation Safe Driver Week, 1,908 commercial motor vehicle drivers were issued citations for speeding. In addition, 17 commercial motor vehicle drivers were cited for driving too fast for the conditions. During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement jurisdictions throughout North America will be promoting the message "Late won't kill you, speeding will."

In addition to the emphasis on speeding, law enforcement personnel will be tracking other dangerous driver behaviors, such as distracted driving, texting, failure to use a seatbelt, following too closely, improper lane change, reckless or aggressive driving, failure to obey traffic control devices, and evidence of drunk or drugged driving.

"As unpopular as traffic citations are among drivers, we know that driver behavior does respond to contacts with law enforcement and warnings and citations," Thompson said. "Roadway safety is our top priority and this traffic enforcement initiative supports our goal of making sure everyone driving on our roadways is doing so safely."

CVSA's Operation Safe Driver Program was created to help to reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries involving large trucks, buses and passenger vehicles due to unsafe driving behaviors. The event is sponsored by CVSA in partnership with FMCSA and with support from industry and transportation safety organizations.

June 2019