Category: Operation Safe Driver Week

Operation Safe Driver Week: What You Need To Know!

What is Operation Safe Driver Week?

Life moves by fast, but next week it might be a good idea to not drive like it does! July 11th-17th this year is the CVSA’s annual ‘Operation Safe Driver Week’ and the focus this year is on speeding, which has been the number one driver-related factor in fatal crashes on highways for years.

For those of you who are not familiar with the CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) or their annual week dedicated to driver’s safety, then this information might save you from an unwanted traffic stop!

From July 11-17, law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for any potentially dangerous driving behavior. Make sure that, during this week especially, you are extra cautious and aware of your speedometer. Although this won’t be the only thing police will be looking at to enforce, your speed will be high on their radar!

If any trucker is seen engaging in unsafe behaviors (speeding, distracted driving, etc.), they will be pulled over by law enforcement and may be issued a warning or a citation. During ‘Operation Safe Driver Week’ in 2020, police observed 66,421 drivers engaging in unsafe behaviors and issued 71,343 warnings/citations.

Why is This Week Important?

This annual program is only a week-long campaign and is supposed to decrease wrecks that are caused by unsafe driving behaviors. 

According to the National Safety Council’s preliminary estimates, in 2020, traffic deaths increased by 24% over the previous year, even though the miles driven dropped by 13%. These statistics are based on all vehicles that used public roads, not just truckers. As a result of this, the CVSA took it upon themselves to educate as many drivers as they can, regardless of the size and amount of axles on a driver’s vehicle. 

The CVSA is in partnership with the Federal Motor Safety Administration and to provide more resources during ‘Operation Safe Driver week’. They believe that the more educated all drivers are about road safety, the less wrecks that will occur. Be especially aware of your speed and partake in safe driving habits July 11th-17th.

Want More Information?

 For more information about ‘Operation Safe Driver Week’ or to find enforcement events in your area, go to https://www.cvsa.org/ or contact the department in charge of overseeing commercial motor vehicle safety in your area!

How To Survive The 2020 CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week

One thing that we can all agree on is that we want the roads to become a safer place with fewer accidents, so more hard-working drivers can make it home to their families. That’s what the CSVA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) is doing by setting up annual safety checks to make sure drivers are operating safely and comply with the laws.

The CSVA’s next safety check will take place during the week of July 12-18, for Operation Safe Driver Week.

Operation Safe Driver Week

As a part of CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement agencies from all across the nation will take part in increased traffic safety enforcement and make an effort to educate the masses on how to be safer drivers.

If law enforcement personnel identify commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers or their passengers exhibiting unsafe behavior on the road, they will issue warnings or citations.

Examples of what law enforcement personnel will have their eyes out for include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Texting
  • Failure to wear a seatbelt (for both drivers and passengers)
  • Following too closely
  • Improper lane changing
  • Failure to obey traffic control devices, and more.

The FMCSA has teamed up with CVSA to sponsor Operation Safe Driver Week, with tons of support from safety transportation organizations in the industry with the goal of improving road safety by addressing drivers operating unsafely on an individual basis.

This safety check was created to decrease the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths involving large passenger vehicles like trucks and buses due to unsafe driving habits and behaviors.

What Can You Do To Be a Safer Driver?

You don’t have to wait to practice safer driving techniques. You can make a few simple changes to ensure safer passage for yourself and those around you today with a few simple things to remember.

  • Get enough sleep! Driving tired is the equivalent to driving drunk. 
  • Slow down! Obey the speed limits, they are there for a reason, and that’s to make the roads safer. Plus, driving a little slower will make you more fuel-efficient.
  • Wear your seatbelt all the time and make sure your passengers do too. Those little straps make a major difference when it comes to saving lives.
  • Put down all electronic devices while you’re driving. When you use them you actually take your eyes off the road, which is very dangerous. If you get bored on the road try finding an entertaining trucking podcast or radio station to listen to before you start driving.
  • Give other vehicles enough space on the road. 

Contact ExpressTruckTax

Don’t forget to file your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 by the August 31st deadline to comply with the law. ExpressTruckTax can help you get your stamped Schedule 1 today!

If you have any questions contact the dedicated ExpressTruckTax support team at 704.234.6005. We also offer live chat and 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com. Also, stay safe out there and thank you for all your hard work. 

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Road Inspections

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Road Inspections

Well, you survived the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 31st 72-hour annual International Roadcheck congratulations. So you are done until next year, right? Sorry folks, that’s not the cause, and the next CVSA truck inspection is closer than you think. Here is what you need to know about the upcoming road inspections.

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Road Inspections

Operation Safe Driver Week
July 15-21, 2018

First up is the Operation Safe Driver Week brought to you by the CVSA in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This annual truck inspection was created to help reduce the number of deaths, crashes, and injuries involving heavy use vehicles. CVSA enforcement officers will not only be cracking down on commercial vehicles but also passenger vehicles with unsafe driving behaviors around CMV’s.

The CVSA has reported that driver behavior is the leading cause of accidents. The “Large Truck Crash Causation Study” from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that dangerous driver behaviors cause 88 percent of large truck crashes and 94 percent of passenger vehicles crashes.

Authorized enforcement personnel will be targeting the following during Operation Safe Driver Week:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting
  • Traffic violations 
  • Seat belt usage 
  • Speeding

Last year 39,000 citations and warnings were issued to drivers during the Operation Safe Driver Week.

Brake Safety Week
September 16-22, 2018

As part of the CVSA’s Brake Safety Week set for September 16-22, 2018, certified enforcement personnel will conduct roadside inspections. During this time heavy highway use vehicles with critical brake violations will be identified and placed out of service. Maintaining a functioning braking system is vital for any driver but most definitely for Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliances. However, if you are maintaining your braking system and performing your routine pre/post trip inspections, you should be fine.

CVSA certified inspectors will conduct a standard Level I 37 point inspection that includes you and your vehicle. The brake inspection of the inspection will consist of the following:

  • Identifying loose or missing parts
  • Air or hydraulic fluid leaks
  • Defective rotor conditions
  • Measurement of pushrod travel
  • Mismatched air chamber sizes across axles
  • Air reservoir integrity and mounting
  • Worn linens
  • Pads
  • Drums or rotors
  • Brake-system warning devices
  • Also, any other brake components

In 12 jurisdictions you will be using performance-based brake testing (PBBT) equipment to test your vehicle’s braking efficiency. For more information on this inspection visit the CVSA website.

2290 Tax Due Date

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Road InspectionsNot really an inspection, but definitely a point of concern is the impending Form 2290 filing deadline. However, thankfully at ExpressTruckTax, we make filing your IRS Form 2290 quick and easy. Spend less than 10 minutes following our user-friendly step-by-step filing guide to complete and transmit your IRS Form 2290 to the IRS and receive your stamped Schedule 1 in just a matter of minutes.

Need some help? Our 100% US-based bilingual support team is available to answer all of your questions via live chat, phone, and email.

File My Heavy Use Tax Now

Prepare For Operation Safe Driver Week

Learn about CVSA with ExpressTruckTax

It’s no secret that we care about trucker safety. The hard-working men and women who deliver goods all across the nation deserve to make it home to their families safely. They are incredibly brave to take on the trucking lifestyle, especially when trucking is considered to be the most hazardous profession in America.

Habits like speeding, driving distracted, driving tired, not complying with the laws, and more endanger our roads. That’s why the CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) has put together a series of safety weeks to educate transportation professionals on safety and to enforce compliance. Their next safety check is Operation Safe Driver Week, and it will take place October 15-21st, 2017.

CSVA’s Operation Safe Driver Week

Operation Safe Driver Week is coming up in just a few days, so be prepared to pass inspection. During this week law enforcement personnel from all across the country will engage in increased traffic safety enforcement and education to fight unsafe driving practices exhibited by commercial vehicle drivers and their passengers.

In 2015, 3,852 people died in large truck accidents. 69% of these people were drivers and passengers in other vehicles, while 16% were drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles. CVSA hopes to reduce these numbers.

That’s why this safety check was created to decrease the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths involving large passenger and transportation vehicles, including trucks and buses due to unsafe driving habits and behaviors. The leading cause of accidents involving commercial vehicles is due to unsafe drivers.

A few things that officers will have their eye out for during this safety check include speeding, texting while driving, seatbelt usage, tailgating, improper lane changing, failure to obey traffic safety tools, and more.

If you or your passengers are identified as exhibiting any of these unsafe behaviors then you may be issued warnings or citations. It would be much easier to avoid this headache altogether by simply practicing safe driving habits at all times.

ExpressTruckTax recommends safe driving habits
Don’t text and drive!

Don’t think that you can do whatever you want on the road to get away with it. The bears, city kitties, foxes in the hen houses, and more will all be looking for you. Especially because FMCSA has joined forces with CVSA to sponsor Operation Safe Driver Week.

They also have tons of support from safety transportation organizations with the common goal of improving road safety by addressing drivers operating unsafely and their passengers on an individual basis.

There are a number of things you can do to start improving driver safety today. For example, slow down. Speeding is dangerous, and going slower will help you more gas efficient. You can also make sure you’re well rested and avoid driving tired, which is equal to driving drunk.

Also, you can put all of your electronic devices down to avoid driving distracted and make sure your seatbelt is always on. They really do their part when it comes to saving lives. Another thing you can do is give other vehicles enough space so you will have time to stop if they suddenly hit the brakes.

Keep Up Your Safe Driving

We know you can handle Operation Safe Driver Week! Just keep doing your part to make the roads a safe place and you won’t get a citation. The best way to promote safety is to spread awareness, so be sure to pass these tips along to fellow drivers. If you have anything about safety to add please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Visit ExpressTruckTax.com for more trucking blogs.