CVSA Speed Citations Put Driver Coaching on Notice
Operation Safe Driver Week results put speeding and seat belts at the top of commercial-driver citations, giving fleets a fresh data point for coaching and safety reviews.
Speeding Leads the List
Speeding-related violations were the most common ticket issued to commercial motor vehicle drivers during this year's Operation Safe Driver Week, according to results released Oct. 6 by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
Officers stopped 8,000 drivers in 36 states, seven Canadian provinces and Mexico during the July 12-18 campaign. Across commercial and passenger vehicles, the week produced nearly 4,000 warnings and 2,604 citations for unsafe driving behaviors.
Seat Belts Stay in the Findings
For commercial motor vehicle drivers, officers issued 3,409 warnings and 1,956 tickets and citations. Speeding-related violations accounted for 17% of commercial-driver tickets, while failing to wear a seat belt accounted for 13%.
CVSA tied both issues directly to crash severity, saying speeding reduces a driver's ability to recognize and react to roadway hazards and increases impact force. The alliance also said wearing a seat belt remains one of the most effective actions a driver or passenger can take to survive a crash.
Coaching Window for Fleets
Distracted-driving enforcement also remained visible. CVSA said commercial motor vehicle drivers received 106 warnings and 136 citations for texting, while passenger vehicle drivers received 29 warnings and 45 citations.
More than 2,880 driver contacts ended without a citation or warning, with officers using the stop to discuss safe driving practices. For fleets, the results are a useful coaching prompt: speed, belt use and distraction are still the behaviors most likely to turn routine trips into enforcement, claims and downtime events.
