CVSA Reports CMV Drivers Speed One-Third as Often as Passenger Car Drivers

Commercial motor vehicle drivers were three times less likely to speed than passenger vehicle drivers according to the results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s ninth annual Operation Safe Driver Week.

The former were issued warnings or citations for speeding just 9.3% of the time compared with 27.3% of the latter. More than 21,000 drivers were pulled over during the week of Oct. 18-24 by nearly 2,800 law enforcement officials at more than 700 locations across the United States and Canada.

CMV drivers were cited most often for these violations: size and weight; speeding; failure to wear a seat belt; failure to obey a traffic control device; and using a handheld phone.

Operation Safe Driver was launched in 2007 by CVSA, in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and with the support from industry and other transportation safety organizations. Its aim is to decrease the number of deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving large trucks, buses and cars by improving the behavior of all drivers operating in an unsafe manner.

Debra Devine/Transport Topics

“Our mission is to make our roadways as safe as possible,” CVSA President Jay Thompson of the Arkansas Highway Police said in a statement. “That’s what Operation Safe Driver Week aims to combat through driver enforcement and education at high schools, state capitols, state fairs, truck rodeos, sporting events and other locations. “We will continue to work toward that goal by ensuring drivers are operating safely in and around large trucks and buses.”

During 2015’s Operation Safe Driver Week, 13,807 CMV traffic enforcement contacts were made, down from 19,980 in 2014. Warnings and citations for speeding increased from 5.8% in 2014 to 9.3% in 2015. Those issued for failing to obey traffic control devices rose from 2.5% to 3.9%, and those issued for failure to use seat belts jumped from 2.8% to 5%.

“Everyone traveling on our highways and roads should reach their destination safely,” FMCSA acting Administrator Scott Darling said in a statement. “I thank CVSA and its members for their partnership and commitment to safety. By working together through efforts like Operation Safe Driver, crashes will be prevented and lives will be saved.”