Speeding was a factor in more than 11,200 fatal traffic crashes in 2020, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. The CVSA cites that statistic as the reason it made speeding the focus area of 2023 Operation Safe Driver Week, which is set to run July 6-15.
During that period, law enforcement will be looking out for both commercial vehicle drivers and passenger car drivers engaged in risky behavior on the road.
In addition to speeding, law enforcement will look for other dangerous driving behavior, such as:
- Reckless, aggressive and distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Improper lane change
- Not using a seatbelt
- Impaired driving
High-risk behaviors like these contribute to 94% of all traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And, despite a drop in miles driven in recent years, roadway fatalities are increasing.
Top 5 Violations from Operation Safe Driver Week 2022
During last year’s safety blitz, law enforcement gave commercial drivers 2,577 warnings and 1,490 citations. The top five violations included:
- Speeding
- Failure to use a seatbelt
- Reckless driving
- Failure to obey traffic control device
- Using cell phones / distracted driving
How Telematics Can Support a Safer Fleet
While the Operation Safe Driver Week lasts just seven days, as a motor carrier you know that safe driving is crucial every day of the year. Telematics and fleet management tools can go a long way toward supporting your safety goals.
Improve Driver Performance
Data from electronic logging devices and dashcams provide actionable insights into safety-critical events, such as speeding and harsh cornering, braking and acceleration. This objective information about driver behavior is a powerful coaching tool.
And the data can be used to foster a culture of safety among drivers, allowing fleet managers to set improvement benchmarks and reward safe driving. Features like the EROAD Driver Leaderboard, which measures your drivers’ performance against that of drivers industrywide, can even spark healthy competition as drivers vie to become the safest in your fleet.
Improve Fleet Health
You can have the best, safest drivers in the industry. But if your physical fleet isn’t in good shape, safety (not to mention your CSA score) is going to suffer. Fleet management tools provide an efficient process for tracking and scheduling vehicle maintenance. Tools like EROAD’s paperless DVIR make it easier for drivers to perform their pre- and post-trip inspections.
And smart trailer tracking solutions add unprecedented, real-time insights into trailer health – brakes, lights, tires and more – that can help fleet managers and drivers identify potential problems before they happen.
With fleet management solutions like our ELD, Clarity Dashcam and Asset Tracker, EROAD is committed to helping our customers run safe, efficient and successful operations while staying in compliance with FMCSA regulations. Contact us today to learn more.
