CVSA 2021 Operation Safe Driver Week Shows 31% Decline in Drivers Pulled Over

The goal of Operation Safe Driver Week is to discourage dangerous driving behaviors. This is accomplished through a heightened law enforcement presence on our roadways and increasing interactions between risky drivers and law enforcement officers.

This year’s Operation Safe Driver Week saw 17,910 passenger vehicle drivers (down 51% over last year’s program) and 28,148 commercial motor vehicle drivers (down 6% over last year’s program) from July 11-17.

During this week in 2021, law enforcement issued 27,349 warnings and citations where last year they issued over 70,000 warnings and citations (a 62% decline).

For speeding, passenger vehicle drivers received 9,349 citations (a 35% decline over 2020) and only 2,929 warnings (a 71% decline over 2020).

On the other hand, commercial motor vehicles received 1,690 speeding citations (down 28% over last year) and 2,549 speeding warnings (a 26% decline over last year).

The top citations and warnings for CMV drivers were:

	Violation	Citations		Violation	Warnings
1.	Speeding/basic speed law/driving too fast for conditions	1,690	1.	Speeding/basic speed law/driving too fast for conditions	2,549
2.	Failure to use a seat belt	1,225	2.	Failure to use a seat belt	954
3.	Failure to obey traffic control device	522	3.	Failure to obey traffic control device	869
4.	Texting/using a handheld phone	344	4.	Texting/using a handheld phone	336
5.	Improper lane change	112	5.	Following too closely	310

Failure to wear a seatbelt was the second highest violation for both types of drivers and buckling up is the single most effective thing vehicle drivers and passengers can do to protect themselves in the event of a crash. Officers issued 1,355 citations and 354 warnings to passenger vehicle drivers, and 1,225 citations and 954 warnings to commercial motor vehicle drivers.

In addition to traffic enforcement, 2,469 motorists were assisted during Operation Safe Driver Week, highlighting law enforcement’s commitment to public service and roadway safety. Motorist assistance may include help fixing a flat tire, providing gasoline for a stranded vehicle, checking on someone who may be pulled over, assisting individuals in distress or experiencing a medical emergency, jump-starting a vehicle, traffic control, etc.

Why is CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week important?

This CVSA Program focuses specifically on drivers because drivers’ actions—whether it be speeding or just the failure to pay attention to driving—are responsible for most crashes and contribute to a staggering 94% of all traffic crashes.

Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors.

By interacting with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.

• Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths since 2008. (Source)
• Speeding of any kind was the most frequent driver-related crash factor for drivers of commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles. (Source)
• Speeding was a factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2018, killing 9,378 people or an average of more than 25 people per day. (Source)
• Distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019. (Source)
• Of the 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts. Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone. (Source)
• Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, 10,142 people lost their lives due to drunk driving. (Source)

DOT Compliance Programs (PSM)

At CNS, our DOT Compliance Programs focus on Proactive Safety Management (PSM),a mindset that will ensure your fleet’s safety and compliance is always in order and ahead of the FMCSA.

Our PSM Motor Carrier Program includes:

• ELD management
• Driver Qualification File Management
• New driver on-boarding
• Driver safety meetings
• CSA score management
• Policies and handbooks
• Vehicle maintenance
• and more