In only a few short weeks, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Operation Safe Driver Week will be upon us. This event will occur from July 9th through the 15th. During this week, law enforcement officials in Texas and all across North America will enforce the importance of using safe driving techniques. This initiative is aimed at drivers of passenger vehicles and commercial motor vehicles—with a mission to reduce the number of crashes on the highways.
While there are drivers who always drive safely, there are others who fail to adhere to safe driving rules. Over the past four years, one of the main focuses during this week has been speeding, and the year 2023 is no different. Law enforcement officials will also look for drivers showcasing signs of unsafe driving, such as failing to wear a seatbelt, improperly changing changes, driving while distracted, and driving while under the influence.
Safer drivers mean fewer crashes, injuries, and deaths. Safer drivers on the roads also mean lower costs for commercial truck or owner-operator insurance in Texas and a better reputation for your trucking business. By being active participants in Operation Safe Driver Week, commercial truck drivers and owner-operators can play a key role in their driver’s health and bottom line.
What Should You Expect During Operation Safe Driver Week?
In 2022, during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement officials stopped over 35,000 commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles–leading to 26,164 warnings and citations. Out of the over 26,000 citations and warnings, drivers who were speeding received the most warnings and citations. According to the CVSA, 2,577 warnings and 1,490 citations were given to drivers of commercial motor vehicles due to speeding. Drivers of passenger vehicles received nearly 2 times the number of warnings(4,722) and nearly 5 times the number of citations(7,096).
This initiative presents various opportunities for drivers, but it also presents some risks. As a commercial truck driver, the more you know about this week, the better prepared you will be to take full advantage of those opportunities and avoid the risks that are bound to be present during this week. Since there will be a heightened focus on speeding, you will need to be well aware of the posted speed limits so you can avoid receiving any citations. You should also anticipate the likelihood that there will be some delays in your routes as there will be an increase in the number of traffic stops.
Be Smart and Do Your Part In July
While there may be an urge for some commercial truck drivers to get to their destination quicker than normal to be more productive, this could lead to unsafe driving. This includes the truck drivers who try to drive when they’re too tired, especially those who may only have one or two loads left for the day or those who do things that are not exactly illegal but will put a driver in a position where he or she will be too fatigued to think wisely.
Drivers who are not practicing safe driving behaviors will likely be pulled over by a law enforcement official, and those who are stopped may possibly face other potential violations during the traffic stop. Safe driving practices benefit everyone involved in trucking operations. All drivers should prioritize safety not only during Operation Safe Driver Week but every day of the year.
About J.E.B. Insurance Services, LLC
At J.E.B. Insurance Services, LLC, we do more than just provide commercial truck insurance options. Our aim is to ensure our clients are equipped with the tools, information, and resources they need to manage simple and complex risks, improve compliance and implement a solid safety culture in their trucking business. If you need commercial truck insurance in Texas, please reach out to us today and a member of our team will be more than happy to provide you with a free quote.
