DOT to crack down on crack pots
GREENBELT, Md. – – Monday’s D-Day for Operation Safe Driver, a campaign targeting aggressive and inept drivers.
Operation Safe Driver, which runs throughout next week, was created by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier’s Safety Administration (FMCSA) but it’s aimed at non-pro drivers in addition to truck and bus drivers.
"While overall,” explains Steve Keppler, CVSA’s Executive Director, “highway crashes and fatalities are declining, poor driver behaviors are increasing — and not just among truck and motorcoach operators, mind you, but car drivers as well."
"Inattention, poor awareness of traffic conditions and unsafe maneuvers by drivers are leading causes of fatal crashes between passenger cars and commercial vehicles, according to the FMCSA," he says.
Operation Safe Driver holds activities across the continent to heighten traffic enforcement of both commercial and passenger vehicles, safety belt enforcement, roadside commercial vehicle and driver safety inspections, as well as educational and awareness programs for the motoring public about safe operations around big trucks and buses.
CVSA and its partners are also developing Defeating Distracted Driving, a short educational program with a DVD, two 30-second PSAs, a tri-fold handout, a PowerPoint, talking points and model policies for motor carriers about the dangers of distracted driving for use by fleets, driving schools and other outlets.
The program is directed at commercial vehicle drivers and its goal is to raise awareness of the risks associated with texting, emailing, using portable electronic devices, and other distractions while driving.
"The Operation Safe Driver campaign reminds us that it only takes a moment of distraction, inattention or carelessness to trigger a crash with devastating consequences,” says FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
“Every commercial truck and bus driver, and those who share the road with them, have a responsibility to always put safety first," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
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