Both passenger vehicle and CMV drivers in Oklahoma should be aware that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be holding its annual Operation Safe Driver Week from July 14 to 20. During this week, police will be boosting up the enforcement of traffic laws. Police will especially look for signs of distracted, impaired and aggressive driving as well as violations like seat belt neglect, failure to obey traffic signals and failure to keep a safe distance from vehicles.
The overall focus this year is on speeding. Speeding drivers contribute to 94% of all traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute states that speeding has been behind more than one-quarter of all car crash deaths since 2008.
Drivers who are caught engaging in unsafe behaviors will be issued a warning or citation. The 2018 Operation Safe Driver Week resulted in 113,331 passenger vehicle and CMV drivers being stopped by police, 57,405 citations being issued and 87,907 warnings being given. In particular, speeding citations were issued to 16,909 passenger vehicle drivers and 1,908 CMV drivers.
The CVSA claims that ticketing campaigns do reduce car crash numbers. The “Click It or Ticket” enforcement program, for instance, has helped to bring these numbers down by 11%.
Speeding, especially when it is behind a truck accident, can be deadly. Those who survive a truck wreck may be left dealing with catastrophic injuries that require life-long medical care. If it is clear that the trucker was the at-fault party, a victim may be able to file a claim against the trucking company and be reimbursed for past and future medical expenses, missed wages and other losses. A lawyer could evaluate the case and take it on, handling all negotiations.
