NHTSA states that distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in the U.S. in 2022. And according to Transport Canada’s National Collision Database, distracted driving contributed to an estimated 22.5% of fatal collisions on Canada’s roadways in 2021.
Thirty drivers received warnings and 49 were given a ticket/citation for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol. In 2020, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving impaired drivers, accounting for 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. Police-reported data for 2022 indicated that 70,588 impaired driving incidents were reported in Canada.
In the U.S., commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders with drug and alcohol program violations are identified in FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. CDL holders with “prohibited” status in the clearinghouse have lost their CDL or CLP and must complete the return-to-duty process to become eligible to have their license reinstated.
In addition to traffic stops, another important aspect of the Operation Safe Driver Week campaign is raising awareness of the dangers of unsafe driving behaviors in an effort to dissuade such behaviors.
CVSA mailed approximately 65,000 Operation Safe Driver Week postcards to inspectors and motor carriers for distribution in the weeks leading up to and during Operation Safe Driver Week.