According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 12,330 speeding-related fatalities in the U.S. in 2021, and speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Transport Canada found that speeding was contributing factor in 21.9% of all fatal collisions in Canada in 2022.
Another top unsafe driving behavior identified during Operation Safe Driver Week was failure to wear a seat belt. A total of 354 warnings and 554 tickets/citations were issued. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent injury or death in a motor vehicle crash. Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.
Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 328 warnings and 473 tickets/citations for not wearing their seat belt. According to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an estimated 14% of commercial motor vehicle drivers do not wear their seat belt.
During Operation Safe Driver Week, passenger vehicle drivers were given 26 warnings and 81 tickets/citations for failure to wear a seat belt. NHTSA states that 8.1% of passenger vehicle drivers do not wear their seat belt.
Texting or using a handheld device was another top violation. A total of 158 warnings and 169 tickets/citations were issued to drivers who were texting or using a mobile device while driving. Passenger vehicle drivers received 67 warnings and 54 tickets/citations for texting/using a handheld device while behind the wheel. Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 91 warnings and 115 tickets/citations for texting/using a handheld device while operating a commercial motor vehicle.