Operation Safe Driver Week starts Sunday

Keep an eye on the speedometer because Operation Safe Driver week starts Sunday, July 11, and law enforcement officers are expected to put a special emphasis on speeding.

The law enforcement effort is scheduled to last through Saturday, July 17. The program focuses on driver behavior.

Operation Safe Driver Week is annually sponsored by Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. CVSA is a nonprofit association comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives

The decision to focus on speeders comes after an increased number of traffic fatalities despite less travel last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The estimated rate of death on roads last year increased 24% over the previous 12-month period, while miles driven dropped 13%, according to preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council. This was the highest increase in rate of death calculated by the council in 96 years.

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

Violators will be pulled over and issued a warning or citation.

“Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors,” CVSA President John Samis, a sergeant with the Delaware State Police, said in a news release. “By making contact with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.”

In 2020, Operation Safe Driver Week resulted in nearly 11,000 warnings or citations being issued.

Last year, 3,681 enforcement officers from 55 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions interacted with 29,921 commercial motor vehicle drivers and 36,500 passenger vehicle drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, CVSA reports.

This campaign is sponsored by CVSA in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and with support from the motor carrier industry and transportation safety organizations. This initiative aims to improve the behavior of all drivers, in or around commercial motor vehicles, through educational and traffic enforcement strategies.

To learn more about Operation Safe Driver Week, contact your local law enforcement agency. LL