GREENBELT, Md. – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) found that non-commercial motor vehicle drivers speed significantly more than commercial vehicle drivers, exceeding the limit 27.3% of the time compared to 9.3%, during its Operation Safe Driver Week campaign.

Pulling over 21,012 commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle drivers and inspecting an additional 19,480 in both Canada and the U.S. between Oct. 18-24, 2015, the CVSA initiative aims to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries from collisions caused by unsafe driving habits by both commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle drivers.

“Unsafe driving behaviours can result in lives lost. That’s what Operation Safe Driver Week aims to combat through driver enforcement and education,” said CVSA president, Major Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police. “Our mission is to make our roadways as safe as possible. We will continue to work toward that goal by ensuring drivers are operating safely in and around large trucks and buses.”

Law enforcement officials numbering 2,789 collected data from 706 locations across Canada and the U.S., and launched outreach, educational and awareness events at high schools, state capitals, fairs, truck rodeos, sporting events and other locations.

The Top 5 warnings and citations issued by CVSA officers to commercial vehicle drivers were for size and weight, speeding, failure to use a seatbelt, failure to obey traffic control devices and using a handheld phone while driving.

The Top 5 warnings and citations issued to passenger vehicle drivers were for speeding, failure to use a seatbelt, failure to obey traffic control devices, following too closely and improper lane changes.

“Everyone travelling on our highways and roads should reach their destination safely,” said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration acting administrator Scott Darling. “I thank CVSA and its members for their partnership and commitment to safety. By working together through efforts like Operation Safe Driver, crashes will be prevented and lives will be saved.”