Get Ready: CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week Returns

Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) dedicates a special week to promote safer driving habits across North America. For 2025, Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled from July 13 to 19, focusing on reducing risky behaviors and keeping everyone on the road safer.

But what exactly is Operation Safe Driver Week, and how does it work? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Operation Safe Driver Week?

Operation Safe Driver Week, led by the CVSA with support from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is a coordinated effort across North America that targets unsafe driving behaviors by both commercial truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.

During this week, officers increase traffic enforcement and conduct roadside inspections of commercial trucks to catch violations and encourage safer driving habits. The timing of this initiative each summer is no accident. Warmer months mean more vehicles on the road and, unfortunately, more opportunities for dangerous driving to lead to tragedy.

The stakes are high. For instance, in 2023, an estimated 40,990 people lost their lives on U.S. roads. While that marks a slight improvement from the previous year, it is still an overwhelming number that shows how much work remains to make our roads safer for everyone.

You May Also Like: Shocking Facts: How Many Semi-Truck Drivers Die Annually in the U.S.

With these challenges in mind, the CVSA has chosen to focus on one of the most pressing issues behind these numbers for Operation Safe Driver Week 2025.

CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week Focus Area 2025

This year, the CVSA is putting the spotlight on speeding for Operation Safe Driver Week 2025, and it could not come at a better time. Speeding is still the most common driver-related factor in fatal crashes involving commercial trucks, and it is about so much more than the risk of getting a ticket. When drivers speed, they lose precious reaction time, need longer to stop, and face much harder impacts if a crash happens.

From July 13 to 19, officers will be looking closely for drivers who go over the speed limit or drive too fast for weather, traffic, or road conditions, whether they are behind the wheel of a big rig or a family car. 

If you are a fleet manager or run a trucking company, now is a perfect time to talk with your drivers, remind them why slowing down matters, and make sure your trucks’ telematics systems are active and tracking speed trends. A few minutes of preparation today could help everyone get home safely tomorrow.

2024 Operation Safe Driver Week Results

Looking back helps us move forward smarter. According to CVSA’s 2024 Operation Safe Driver Week report, law enforcement in Canada and the U.S. made 11,050 traffic stops. These resulted in 2,712 citations and 3,228 warnings for unsafe driving.

The most common violations stay the same each year: speeding, not wearing seat belts, and distracted driving continues to cause many crashes and deaths.

- Speeding was the top violation with 1,694 warnings and 1,226 citations. Commercial motor vehicle drivers got 1,221 warnings and 502 citations, while passenger vehicle drivers received 473 warnings and 724 citations. Speeding was involved in 29 percent of fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2021 and nearly 22 percent of fatal collisions in Canada in 2022.

- Seat belt violations also remained high, with 354 warnings and 554 citations. Most were given to commercial drivers. About 14 percent of commercial drivers and 8.1 percent of passenger vehicle drivers still do not wear seat belts, even though seat belts cut the risk of serious injury or death by half.

- Distracted driving enforcement resulted in 158 warnings and 169 citations for texting or using a handheld device while driving. Distracted driving caused more than 3,300 deaths in the U.S. in 2022 and contributed to nearly 23 percent of fatal collisions in Canada in 2021.

- Reckless or careless driving was addressed with 5 warnings and 31 citations. This includes driving without proper care or with willful disregard for safety.

- Impaired driving resulted in 30 warnings and 49 citations. In 2020, impaired driving was responsible for 30 percent of U.S. traffic deaths, and Canada reported over 70,000 impaired driving incidents in 2022.

You May Also Like: Safety Truck Inspections 2025: How to Stay Compliant and Avoid Fines?

The results are a stark reminder that CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week remains as relevant as ever. For trucking companies, these insights provide an opportunity to refine training programs, proactively address common violations, and foster a culture where safety is a shared responsibility.

Remember, safe driving is a choice we make every single mile. Take care!