Speeding Towards 2025 Operation Safe Driver Week July 13-19

2025 Operation Safe Driver week will emphasize willful disregard for safety, especially in high-risk environments like urban areas, construction zones, and busy corridors.

Launched in 2007, CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week is part of a broader initiative to target unsafe driving behaviors — especially those that contribute to crashes involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).

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Supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and local jurisdictions, the week-long campaign focuses on:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Following too closely
• Seat belt violations
• Driving under the influence
• Mobile device use
• Regulatory compliance

Why target drivers? Because driver behavior is the leading cause of crashes — responsible for an estimated 94% of all motor vehicle accidents.

2024 Results: A Quick Recap

Last year’s Operation Safe Driver Week (July 7–13, 2024) saw 11,050 vehicle stops across Canada and the U.S.

Here’s a breakdown of key data that highlights the focus and effectiveness of the campaign:

• Top Offense: Speeding (particularly among both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers)
• CMV Seat Belt Compliance: Still a problem — 328 warnings and 473 citations issued to CMV drivers alone.
• Distracted Driving: 284 total violations tied to texting or mobile use.
• Impaired Driving: 79 drivers cited or warned — a reminder that drug and alcohol policies are still a top enforcement priority.

What’s Different in 2025?

The 2025 campaign will double down on “reckless, careless, or dangerous driving.”

That includes:

• Weaving in traffic
• Aggressive lane changes
• Tailgating
• Speeding in work zones or poor weather
• Ignoring traffic control devices

While these behaviors overlap with past enforcement areas, this year’s messaging will emphasize willful disregard for safety, especially in high-risk environments like urban areas, construction zones, and busy corridors.

How Truckers Can Prepare

Here’s how professional drivers and fleet operators can get ahead of the curve before July 13:

1. Review Safety Policies

Ensure your fleet’s safety policies are up to date. Re-train drivers on speed management, defensive driving, seat belt use, and device-free operation. Make it part of your pre-trip routines.

2. Audit Telematics Data

Use your ELD and telematics systems (like SpeedGauge or Samsara) to review driver performance trends: speeding incidents, hard braking, sudden lane changes, and distracted driving flags. Get ahead of any red flags.

3. Perform Mock Inspections

Hold internal safety blitzes the week before July 13. Check logbook compliance, seat belt use, and ensure drivers are clear on rules related to CDL violations and return-to-duty processes.

4. Reinforce Human Trafficking Awareness

CVSA reported 1,924 human trafficking awareness actions during last year’s campaign. Make sure your drivers know how to spot red flags and report suspicious activity.

5. Engage Drivers Through Education

Download CVSA’s free postcards, videos, and training resources — available in English, French, and Spanish — to share with drivers. Use toolbox talks or safety meetings as platforms for discussion.

Expectations for Truckers in 2025

Based on 2024 enforcement data and the 2025 theme, here’s what CMV drivers should expect:

Driver Training with a Proactive Approach

Operation Safe Driver Week is not just about tickets — it’s about education, behavior change, and saving lives. Truck drivers are professionals on the front lines of roadway safety, and the industry relies on them to lead by example.

Each driver comes with their own experiences, skills, and flaws and these technologies can be used to understand your driver better.

For example, if driver trainers notice a habit of hard acceleration or hard braking, they should make sure a video training schedule includes driving fundamentals and defensive driving topics.

By taking a proactive stance — reviewing habits, leveraging tech, and reinforcing compliance — carriers and drivers can stay on the right side of the law while helping to reduce the tragic statistics we still see year after year.

Customized training should also be measurable using quiz assessments to track driver performance. If their assessment score is low, then the training needs to be retaken.

Our DOT trainers offer a variety of in-person or online training courses tailored to the specific needs or weaknesses of your company and drivers.

For more information, contact us at 888.260.9448 or info@cnsprotects.com.