Operation Safe Driver Week focuses on speeding

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be holding its Operation Safe Driver Week from July 14 to 20. This will impact both motor vehicle and commercial vehicle drivers in Florida and across the U.S. This annual event is a period of increased enforcement of traffic laws. Police will be stopping any drivers engaging in unsafe behavior and will give out either warnings or citations.

Drivers may be stopped if they, for example, do not wear their seat belt, make an improper lane change, do not obey traffic control devices, follow too closely to other vehicles or use their phones behind the wheel. Police will also be on the lookout for aggressive drivers and drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. The main focus of 2019’s event, though, is on speeding.

The CVSA states that for more than 20 years, speeding has contributed to nearly one third of all auto accident fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found in 2015 that speeding was a factor in 94% of all traffic crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration called speeding the leading driver-related factor in all crashes.

Operation Safe Driver Week resulted in 113,331 drivers being stopped by police. A total of 57,405 citations and 87,907 warnings were issued with 18,817 of the citations being speeding-related.

Increased law enforcement can reduce the number of car accidents, but not all, of course. When drivers are careless or reckless and cause a crash, they will be held liable. Their auto insurance company may find itself facing a personal injury claim from the victims. As for victims, they may want to see a lawyer, first for the case evaluation. If retained, the lawyer may hire investigators to build up the case with evidence, including the police report and any eyewitness testimony.