Commercial truck drivers were issued more than 10,000 citations and warnings unsafe driving behaviors during Operation Safe Driver Week, which took place July 12-18.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance says truckers were issued a total of 10,736 warnings and citations for traffic violations during the week-long enforcement spree – 4,659 citations and 6,077 warnings.
Speeding was the most common traffic violation, accounting for 2,339 citations and 3,423 warnings.
The top five traffic enforcement citations given to commercial motor vehicle drivers were:
- Speeding/violation of basic speed law/driving too fast for the conditions – 2,339
- Failure to use a seat belt – 1,003
- Failure to obey traffic control device – 617
- Using a hand-held phone/texting – 269
- Improper lane change – 122
Officers were also watching for violations for passenger vehicles, which resulted in a total of 32,121 warnings and citations for traffic violations. Traffic violations include speeding, distracted driving, following too closely, failure to wear a seatbelt and more.
According to CVSA’s results of the event, passenger vehicle drivers received nearly three times as many warnings and citations as truck drivers. Passenger vehicle drivers were cited for speeding more than six times as often as truck drivers.
“Although CVSA is a commercial motor vehicle safety organization, it was important that passenger vehicle drivers were also involved in this annual week-long driver safety enforcement initiative,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “When commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles collide, no matter who was at fault, the results can be catastrophic, especially for the smaller and lighter passenger vehicle. Preventing crashes from happening requires every driver – commercial and personal – to be aware of how to safely share the road with other types of vehicles.”
Operation Safe Driver Week was the CVSA’s first enforcement initiative of the year, as a result of the postponement or cancellation of other enforcement campaigns due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, 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 this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week.
