Operation Safe Driver could potentially save thousands of lives through a raised awareness about safety on the road. The campaign is geared to educate the public about on-the-road safety, safer teen driving and issues related to commercial vehicles.
What is Operation Safe Driver?
Started by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Operation Safe Driver is a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about safety on the highways and roads. The aim of Operation Safe Driver is to keep both commercial and non-commercial drivers safe through education related to the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
The campaign is especially focused on fatalities involving large trucks or buses on the road and how distracted driving impacts teens. Public service announcements on the radio and television are helping to keep people informed about the consequences of distracted driving, and Operation Safe Driver offers a media tool kit with brochures and fact sheets that can help drivers understand how dangerous it is to take attention off of the road while behind the wheel.
Safety on the Road
CVSA reports that over 3,000 people were killed in vehicle accidents involving large commercial trucks in 2009. Because multiple-vehicle accidents involving large trucks most often cause injury or death to people in the smaller vehicle, Operation Safe Driver aims to educate both commercial drivers and the drivers of cars about the importance of staying aware behind the wheel.
Hundreds of thousands of people are injured in vehicle accidents every year because of distracted driving. Texting, talking on a cell phone, eating and even reading are activities that can result in obvious inattention to the road.
How Could Operation Safe Driver Help Commercial Drivers?
Spending hours behind the wheel every day as a commercial driver certainly comes with safety risks, but the information spread through Operation Safe Driver could make roads safer for those who drive professionally.
CVSA is not only dedicated to saving lives through Operation Safe Driver, but the alliance is also dedicated to improving the image of commercial vehicles. The intimidation felt by non-commercial drivers could be eased if both commercial and non-commercial drivers are proactive about staying alert on the road.
No matter who is at fault in an accident involving a large truck, the fact of the matter is that a lot of damage can be done by a commercial vehicle. If all drivers make an effort to drive safer, injuries and fatalities related to multiple-vehicle accidents can be significantly reduced.