CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week 2023

 

What is the CVSA?

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) offers guidance and education to law enforcement, motor carrier industries, and policymakers to prevent these fatalities and improve vehicle and driver safety.

CVSA is an organization that is comprised of commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives.

 

What is CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week?

International Road check is over, but drivers can look forward to the upcoming Operation Safe Driver Week in July.

“CVSA operation safe driver week” is one of the major annual trucking events scheduled to take place this year in mid-July from July 9-15.

 

Reasons behind the Operation:

The Alliance began in 1980 as an informal gathering of western state agencies and Canadian provinces. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was developed to establish uniformity and reciprocity of highway enforcement. In 1991, CVSA expanded to include Mexico, making CVSA the North American Alliance that it is today.

 

The increase in deaths brought on by vehicles is the critical reason behind this operation.

According to research:

• 9.8% of vehicles involved in fatal crashes are large trucks.
• 2021 saw a 17% increase in fatal truck crashes over 2020.
• In 2019, over 118,000 commercial trucks were the reason for most of the accidents leading to severe injuries and death (causing a 5% increase from the previous year, 2018). (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS))
• In 2019, 5005 people died because of a commercial truck crash. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA))
• In 2020, 38,824 people nationwide died in traffic accidents. Among those 4,014 people died in truck crashes. (Source: U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

 

The major causes of these accidents were distracted driving and speeding. Hence why, for the second year in a row, CVSA has again chosen to make this focus of this year's safe driver week speeding.

 

Everything you need to know about CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week

According to an NSC report, speeding-related fatalities increased by 17% in 2019, reaching their highest level since 2008.

Following a 17% increase in speed-related fatalities, law enforcement in North America plans to focus on aggressive drivers during CVSA’s annual safety week.

CVSA created Operation Safe Driver Week with the help of federal agencies in Canada, Mexico, and the United States and with assistance from the motor carrier industry and transportation safety organizations.

During safe driver week, law enforcement officers in Canada, the United States, and Mexico will be on the roads to check for both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers participating in rushed or careless driving behaviors and issuing them a citation or warning depending on the situation.

 

Purpose of the Operation:

Through education and traffic enforcement tactics, the CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program seeks to improve all drivers’ driving performance and lower the number of collisions. In a statement, CVSA President Captain John Broers had this to say, “This emphasis on driver’s behavior is part of our effort to track and educate drivers who are operating dangerously on our roads to prevent crashes.”

 

The focus of the Operation:

A major focus of this operation is speeding. Here’s why-

 

Excessive speeding

• increases vehicle braking distance,
• decreases the ability of road safety structures, and
• shortens the period the driver has to respond to a sudden situation to avoid a collision.

Speeding is a major cause of traffic fatalities and injuries. It is the leading driver-related factor in fatal highway crashes.

 

In the US:

• In 2019, an estimated 326,000 people were hurt in speeding-related accidents.
• In 2019, 9478 fatalities (26% of all fatalities of the year) were due to speeding.
• In 2020, 29% of all traffic fatalities were due to the reason of speeding, killing an average of 27 people per day.
• 10,136 fatal motor vehicle collisions were caused by speeding.
• In 2020 deaths from speeding increased by 17% from the previous year.
• Currently, 29 percent of all traffic fatalities are caused by speeding. (Source: NSC and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration )

 

In Canada:

• Speeding is a factor in 27% of fatalities and 19% of serious injuries.
• The majority of speeding drivers are involved in fatal collisions.
• According to research, a 1% decrease in speed results in a 5% reduction in the likelihood of a fatal collision. (OECD, 2008)
• According to reports, motorcycle speed was the primary cause of 12 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Canada. (Source:  https://m.tests.ca/driving-statistics/)

 

Why should you care?

These alarming statistics make it more important than ever to focus on driving behavior.

Officers will be on the lookout for reckless drivers throughout the week. These drivers will be pulled over and given a citation or warning.

Take a look at the statistics from 2021’s Operation Safe Driver Week.

 

In the United States,

• 4,420 warnings and 3,158 citations were given to commercial motor vehicle drivers.
• 4,018 warnings and 9,106 citations were issued against passenger vehicle drivers.
• 1,225 citations and 954 warnings were given to truck drivers.

 

Some of the major violations were:

• Speeding
• Using a phone during driving
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Not changing lanes properly
• Following too closely
• Failing to obey traffic rules

 

How to Ensure Success for Operation Safe Driver Week 2023

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is just a few weeks away. Here are some tips you can do to lessen your chance of being pulled over.

• Make sure you obey speed limits.
• Avoid excessive speeding.
• Obey traffic control devices.
• Wear a seat belt.
• Follow traffic rules.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Keep the following distance.
• Be focused, and don’t get distracted.
• Check your truck to ensure it is in good condition.
• Avoid using mobile phones during driving.
• Keep the necessary documents on hand (especially the license).

 

Keep in Mind

This year’s event begins on July 9th, lasting for a week, and ends on July 15th. Our advice is to be on your best driving behavior this week and always. Keep the list of potential violations in mind and avoid them. Follow all the tips mentioned above and avoid doing anything that you believe will add you to the list of unsafe drivers. Getting cited or warned costs you money and impacts the statistics acquired by the CVSA, which may be used to influence future governmental policy.