How to Prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week 2025
Operation Safe Driver Week is only a month away. Are you and your drivers ready?
The annual enforcement event, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), is scheduled for July 13–19, 2025. Throughout the week, law enforcement agencies across North America will increase efforts to curb unsafe driving. And although the CVSA organizes the event, it impacts all drivers—from passenger vehicles to commercial trucks.
While safe driving is always a priority, this event is a timely opportunity to make sure your drivers are operating safely and that your fleet is fully compliant. With the heightened risk of traffic stops and roadside inspections, it pays to be prepared.
An Annual Event Aimed at Safety
The CVSA and FMCSA have partnered on this initiative since 2007 to reduce the rising number of deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicle and truck crashes. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 42,514 traffic-related fatalities occurred in the United States alone. The vast majority of crashes are preventable and result from driver error.
During last year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement officers pulled over 11,050 vehicles and issued 2,712 citations and 3,288 warnings for unsafe driving. Speeding topped the list of violations, followed by failure to wear a seat belt and texting or using a handheld device.
A Focus on Unsafe Driving Habits
This year’s event targets reckless, careless, or dangerous driving, which is defined as “operating a vehicle without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other motorists or people on the road.”
Officers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be watching for behaviors such as:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Following too closely
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive maneuvers
Drivers caught engaging in these behaviors may receive a warning or citation.
A Possible Uptick in Roadside Inspections
Although Operation Safe Driver Week focuses on driving behavior, a traffic stop for something like handheld device use or speeding can quickly escalate into a full roadside inspection.
That’s where a minor violation can lead to much more serious consequences.
According to FMCSA data, more than half of all roadside inspections uncover at least one violation. On average, inspectors find 1.7 violations per inspection. Nearly one in five inspections results in an out-of-service order, which can immediately take the driver or vehicle off the road. While the goal of the week is enforcement, the outcomes often go far beyond a single citation.
What to Expect This Year
During Operation Safe Driver Week, drivers on the road should expect increased enforcement activity, especially near major freight corridors, weigh stations, and other known inspection areas. While the primary focus will be reckless or careless driving, officers won’t overlook other common violations.
Speeding, texting, following too closely, and failing to wear a seat belt are among the most likely behaviors to get drivers pulled over. And once that happens, everything from vehicle condition to documentation is fair game for inspection.
Enforcement activity creates real challenges for carriers. Expect more stops, more inspections, and more opportunities for an expired document or maintenance oversight to cause delays. Some shippers may plan around the week, slowing freight volume or adjusting schedules. It adds up fast.
The best protection is to make sure every driver and vehicle on the road is compliant well before July 13.
How to Prepare
There’s still time to get ahead of it, but it’s going to take more than a reminder email. Use the next few weeks to tighten up your compliance practices and make sure your team is ready.
- Double-check credentials. CDLs, med cards, endorsements, and permits should be current and accessible.
- Review company-level documents. Confirm that your operating authority, insurance, UCR filings, and hazmat registration are accurate and up to date.
- Schedule preventive maintenance. Pay close attention to common violation areas like brakes, lights, and tires. If it's visible from the roadside, expect it to be checked.
- Prep your drivers. If a driver hasn’t received recent coaching or inspection training, now’s the time. Help them understand what to expect and what to avoid. If they get pulled over, they should know how to respond, who to call, and what steps to follow. If you’re looking for help, the CVSA has created educational materials you can download for reference.
This isn’t about doing more than necessary. It’s about covering the details that cost you the most when they’re missed.
We Can Help With All of It
At US Compliance Services, we work with carriers across the country to help them stay ahead of events like Operation Safe Driver Week.
Our MVR monitoring program gives you real-time visibility into driver violations and credential status. You’ll know who’s in good standing and who needs attention before they hit the road. And if a driver receives a citation during Safe Driver Week, you’ll have that information within days—not months—so you can step in to prevent a repeat violation.
We also help carriers manage critical compliance tasks like CDL verification, medical card tracking, drug and alcohol testing, and more. You don’t have to piece everything together yourself.
Events like this don’t get easier. Enforcement tightens, scrutiny increases, and the cost of noncompliance keeps rising. But with the right systems and support, you can stay ahead of the curve and avoid having a preventable violation take your driver, freight, or business off the road.
If you need help getting ready for Safe Driver Week—or building stronger compliance practices for the long haul—our team is here to help.