CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week results

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently released a report detailing data from Operation Safe Driver Week. This year, the awareness week lasted from July 15-21, a time in which dangerous and distracted driving is commonplace. Law enforcement officials used this time to identify and educate drivers engaging in dangerous driving habits. During this time, officers issued 57,405 citations and 87,907 warnings to drivers regarding their habits.

For both commercial motor vehicles and passenger cars, the top three citations were for specific state or local laws, speeding and failure to use a seat belt, respectively. Other common citations included the cell phone use, disobeying a traffic control device and careless driving.

woman pulled over getting traffic violationPolice officers across the U.S. educated drivers on safe practices during Operation Safe Driver Week.

Law enforcement agencies understand the importance of keeping drivers safe on the road. Hindering drivers from participating in unsafe driving habits can protect the safety of their passengers, other drivers on the road and pedestrians. That is why the CVSA created Operation Safe Driver Week, to educate drivers of the dangers of distracted driving, speeding and other traffic violations.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, summer and fall are the times of year in which the most deaths in car accidents occur. More specifically, the day with the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities is July 4, Independence Day. In the warmer months, more teen drivers populate the roads, as they are out and about while enjoying their summer vacation from school. AAA warned parents and teens of the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers, which last from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During this period, average deaths from accidents involving teenage drivers increases 16 percent per day compared to the rest of the year. Teens' lack of experience on the road makes them the most likely individuals to get into serious car accidents.

Improved vehicle technology may have decreased the number of accident-related fatalities.

There is a silver lining in the reported safe driving statistics. The IIHS cited that the number of fatalities in motor vehicles has decreased, even though total miles traveled have almost doubled. The most motor vehicle-related deaths in the U.S. occurred in 1979, with 51,093 fatalities over about 1.5 million miles traveled. Meanwhile, 2016 had just 37,461 deaths over 3.1 million miles traveled. Although law enforcement is constantly working to lower this number, these statistics reveal that increased safety laws and vehicle technologies may be among the causes of this decrease.

It isn't solely drivers' jobs to drive safely. Manufacturers are also responsible for producing the safest possible vehicles. To navigate the complex world of safe component manufacturing, companies can request a complimentary brake testing consultation from Greening.