The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is coming up quickly. During this special week, law enforcement agencies will launch heightened traffic safety enforcement and education initiatives across North America.
Operation Safe Driver Week 2016
Operation Safe Driver Week is happening from October 16 – 22, 2016. In partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other transportation associations, the CVSA aims to combat unsafe driving behaviours by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and passenger-vehicle (car) drivers through this program. This includes tackling unsafe driving behavior around CMV drivers and by CMV drivers.
Unsafe driving behavior is the leading cause of accidents among drivers. Examples of behaviours that will be targeted during this week are failure to use seatbelts, failure to obey traffic controls, speeding, following too closely, improper lange changes, distracted driving, etc.
What Happened Last Year?
During the 2015 Operation Safe Driver Week, over 21,000 vehicles (commercial and passenger) were pulled over. The CVSA conducted 19,480 North American Standard Roadside Inspections on commercial motor vehicles that were stopped.
Here are the top warnings and citations that were issues to CMV drivers:
- Size and weight
- Speeding
- Failure to use a seatbelt
- Failure to obey traffic control devices
- Using a handheld phone
Get Prepared Now
It’s time to make sure that you’re ready for Operation Safe Driver Week! Take a look at the top warnings and citations above – a lot of these a easy things that you can fix yourself! Here are some tips to make sure you’re prepared:
Be Prepared for a Level 1 (North American Standard) Inspection
Ensure that all of your paperwork is valid and accessible (license, medical examiner’s certificate, SPE, etc.). Create a binder with this information to make it easier for the inspector to view. Keep on top of vehicle maintenance and focus on areas covered in the Level 1 Inspection. Full details can be found here.
- Practice Safe Driving Habits
Always use your seatbelt when operating a commercial motor vehicle, follow the posted speed limits, and drive for the conditions. Make safety a priority by incorporating these habits into your daily routine
Avoid Distracted Driving
Let’s be honest – we’ve all done some sort of distracted driving. Answering your phone, sending a quick text message, playing with the radio, eating while driving, etc. A recent in-cab driving study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed truck drivers who texted while driving had 23 times the risk of being involved in a crash or near-crash incident. Pull over, do what you need to do, and then get back on the road. It might add a couple more minutes to your trip but it could save a life!
- Obey Hours-of-Service Regulations
Hours-of-service (HOS) violations accounted for nearly half of all driver related violations in 2015! Always ensure that you’re running in compliance with the rules and regulations required for your industry and locations. With the BigRoad Mobile App this is easy! Pre-loaded rules and notifications take the guesswork out of logging and managing your hours-of-service! Download the FREE app today!
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