What is Operation Safe Driver? (2023 Update)

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What is Operation Safe Driver and its Purpose?

The CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver program was created in 2007 to help reduce the number of crashes, deaths, and injuries involving large trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles due to unsafe driving behaviors.  This program is sponsored by the CVSA, in partnership with FMCSA and with support from industry and transportation safety organizations.  The initiative aims to help improve the behavior of all drivers operating in an unsafe manner, either in or around commercial motor vehicles, through educational and traffic enforcement strategies to address individuals exhibiting high-risk driving behaviors.

What are the 2023 Dates and Emphasis of the Operation Safe Driver Week?

The dates for the Operation Safe Driver Week for 2023 are July 9-15.  This year’s Safe Driver Week will focus on speeding.  Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths since 2008 and speeding of any kind was the most frequent driver-related crash factor for drivers of commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles.

In addition to the emphasis on speeding, other dangerous driver behaviors will be tracked 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
  • Evidence of Drunk or Drugged Driving

What Were the Results from the 2022 Operation Safe Driver Week?

Officers pulled over more than 35,000 commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles July 10-16 and issued 26,164 warnings and citations. Throughout the week, law enforcement personnel pulled over and issued warnings or citations to drivers they observed engaging in dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding or distracted driving.

Speeding, which was the focus of this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, was the top driver-behavior violation for both types of drivers. Officers issued 8,586 citations and 7,299 warnings for speeding/basic speed law/driving too fast for conditions. That’s 7,096 citations and 4,722 warnings for speed-related offenses to passenger vehicle drivers, and 1,490 speed-related citations and 2,577 warnings to commercial motor vehicle drivers.

For the full results from the 2022 Operation Safe Driver Week click on the following link – https://www.cvsa.org/news/2022-osd-week-results/#:~:text=This%20year’s%20Operation%20Safe%20Driver%20Week%20data%2C%20broken%20out%20by,7%2C445%20warnings%20and%209%2C531%20citations.

Is Operation Safe Driver 2023 Strictly About Traffic Enforcement?

The Operation Safe Driver program also offers materials and resources to educate the following drivers:

Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers – The Operation Safe Driver program created materials designed to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers about the dangers and challenges they may encounter on roadways, such as distracted driving, aggressive driving, passenger vehicle drivers cutting off commercial motor vehicles, etc. There are videos, audio PSAs and printable flyers, all available for free.

Teens and New or Inexperienced Drivers  – These materials, which include videos, audio PSAs and printable flyers, were designed to teach teen and new or inexperienced drivers how to safely share the roads with large trucks and buses. This information can be used by driver’s education instructors, parent-teacher organizations, community groups, parents, or any other interested individuals or organizations, all available at no cost.

What are Some Suggestions to Prepare for Operation Safe Driver?

In order to prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week, and to reduce your drivers’ overall risk of being the target of law enforcement, now is a great time to start monitoring driver behaviors. There are many ways to achieve positive results, such as using ELD reporting, management road observations, and even check rides with drivers. 

As you prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week, be sure to discuss the following considerations with management / staff:

  • Correcting risky behaviors now to avoid being targets for law enforcement, but also reduce the risk of severe crashes and large claims. 
  • Safety meetings with topics focused on driver behaviors falling under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration BASICs categories.
  • Extra rewards/incentives for drivers who receive a clean inspection during this timeframe.
  • Daily reminders from management, dispatchers, and peer leaders referencing unsafe driving issues.
  • Paperwork audits for all permits, insurance, etc., required in the trucks.

In an effort to stay ahead of the added law enforcement during Operation Safe Driver Week, educate yourselves, your operations, those responsible for maintenance, and of course, your drivers.  Identify and address unsafe behaviors now and repair defects.  Again, the primary focus will be on unsafe driving, but any other defects discovered during the inspection may be listed on the inspection along with the reason for being stopped.  It is crucial that proper pre-trip and post-trip inspections are completed daily.

What are Some Good Tips to Remember During the 2023 Operation Safe Driver Week?

5 Quick Tips:

  • No Phones While Driving
  • Leave Room and Move Over
  • Stop the Tailgating
  • Don’t Forget the Signal
  • Get Organized with All of Your Paperwork (License, Registration, Logbook, etc…)    

Being aware of the most common violations (brakes, lights, tires, cargo load securement) can help truck drivers focus on crucial features and help them stay on the road. Regardless of why a driver is initially put in a roadside inspection, they should go through and understand each level of inspection and make sure all items within each level are ready for a close examination. 

Check out the different levels of inspections in more detail.

More information on Operation Safe Driver can be Found on the CVSA website

https://www.cvsa.org/

Sources:

CVSA Website – https://cvsa.org/

“What Motor Carriers Can do to Prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week”, Great West Casualty Company.

                  

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