The next big driver-focused enforcement blitz is just weeks away

International Roadcheck may be over, but the next Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) enforcement effort is just around the corner.

The CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week 2021 will take place July 11 — 17.

During the week-long effort, law enforcement officers across the country will be patrolling for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving behaviors in or around a commercial motor vehicle. Officers will issue warnings or citations to violators.

This year, the area of emphasis for the blitz will be on speeding. Officers will also be on the lookout for other dangerous driving behaviors including reckless or aggressive driving, distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to use a seat belt, and evidence of drunk or drugged driving.

The CVSA selected speeding as this year’s area of emphasis because traffic fatalities up in spite of the fact that the pandemic reduced overall roadway travel.

“Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors,” said Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “By making contact with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.”

During last year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, which also focused on speed violations, commercial vehicle drivers were issued a total of 10,736 warnings and citations for traffic enforcement violations during Operation Safe Driver Week — which breaks down to 4,659 citations and 6,077 warnings.

The top five traffic enforcement citations given to commercial motor vehicle drivers during the 2020 blitz were:

1. Speeding/violation of basic speed law/driving too fast for the conditions – 2,339
2. Failure to use seat belt while operating commercial motor vehicle – 1,003
3. Failure to obey traffic control device – 617
4. Using a hand-held phone/texting – 269
5. Improper lane change – 122

The CVSA’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 22 — 28, 2021. An additional unannounced one-day brake safety enforcement initiative will be held at some time during 2021.