Operation Safe Driver Week—an annual campaign conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)— took place from July 11-17, 2021. This year’s focus was on speeding.
During the week-long initiative, law enforcement officers across North America stopped 46,058 passenger vehicles and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers engaging in dangerous driving behaviors.
The Purpose of Operation Safe Driver Week
Operation Safe Driver Week is an annual, seven-day initiative created by the CVSA to help detect and prevent unsafe behaviors on the road among CMV drivers.
During this week-long campaign, law enforcement agencies throughout North America typically participate in increased traffic safety enforcement, focusing on risky behaviors such as:
- Engaging in reckless or aggressive driving
- Being distracted while driving
- Following too closely
- Conducting improper lane changes
- Failing to obey traffic control devices
- Neglecting to use a seat belt
- Driving while under the influence
As usual, drivers found in violation of any safety regulations were issued a warning or citation.
Apart from heightened traffic safety enforcement, Operation Safe Driver Week also calls for increased education and awareness of safe driving practices. Law enforcement agencies, transportation safety officials and motor carriers are encouraged to take this time to provide CMV drivers with valuable resources on safe driving behaviors.
U.S. 2021 Results
Within the United States alone, 23,871 CMV drivers and 9,366 passenger vehicle drivers were pulled over due to unsafe driving behaviors during this year’s initiative. A total of 12,264 citations and 8,438 warnings were issued. Out of those citations, 26% were given to CMV drivers, and 74% were given to passenger vehicle drivers.
The top five warnings issued in the United States included:
- Speeding (2,757 warnings)
- Conducting improper lane changes (333 warnings)
- Using a handheld phone or otherwise being distracted behind the wheel (230 warnings)
- Failing to use a seat belt (208 warnings)
- Engaging in improper turns (154 warnings)
The top five citations issued in the U.S. were:
- Speeding (6,449 citations)
- Failing to use a seat belt (1,117 citations)
- Using a handheld phone or otherwise being distracted on the road (480 citations)
- Driving while under influence or possessing drugs or alcohol (320 citations)
- Conducting improper lane change (255 citations)
2021 Results – North America
The overall results showed 28,148 CMVs and 17,910 passenger vehicles were pulled over throughout the week in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Of those pulled over, 10,486 warnings and 16,863 citations were issued.
The top five overall citations for all three locations were:
- Speeding (11,039 citations)
- Failing to use a seat belt (2,580 citations)
- Texting, using a handheld phone or otherwise being distracted while driving (917 citations)
- Failing to obey traffic control devices (858 citations)
- Conducting improper lane changes (386 citations)
The top five passenger vehicle driver citations for all three locations were:
- Speeding (9,349 citations)
- Failing to use a seat belt (1,355 citations)
- Using a handheld phone or otherwise being distracted on the road (573 citations)
- Driving while under the influence or possessing drugs or alcohol (428 citations)
- Failing to obey traffic control devices (336 citations)
The top five CMV driver citations for all three locations were:
- Speeding (1,690 citations)
- Failing to use a seat belt (1,225 citations)
- Neglecting to obey traffic control devices (522 citations)
- Texting or using a handheld phone behind the wheel (344 citations)
- Conducting improper lane changes (112 citations)
