Law enforcement officers in Canada and the U.S. pulled over 8,739 vehicles during this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, issuing 3,230 warnings and 1,839 tickets/citations to commercial and passenger vehicle drivers for unsafe driving behaviors. Meanwhile, passenger vehicle drivers received 345 warnings and 665 tickets.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts the annual, weeklong initiative to improve driver behavior through enforcement, education, and awareness campaigns. The 2025 campaign ran from July 13 to 19, with a focus on reckless, careless, and inattentive driving — a key contributor to crashes across North America.
Speeding was the top violation this year, accounting for nearly 2,200 combined warnings and citations. Of those, officers issued 1,073 warnings and 491 citations to commercial drivers. Speeding remains one of the most persistent causes of fatal collisions. In 2023, it killed 11,775 people and contributed to 29% of all traffic deaths in the U.S.. In Canada, speeding was cited in 25% of the country’s 1,964 roadway fatalities last year.
Focus on inattentive driving, wearing seatbelts
This year’s enforcement focus — reckless, careless, and inattentive driving — led to 20 citations and 53 warnings overall. Commercial vehicle drivers received the majority: 12 citations and 47 warnings.
Distracted driving, in particular, is becoming an increasing concern, with commercial drivers accounting for 107 warnings and 79 citations issued for texting and/or using a handheld device while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Failure to wear a seatbelt was another frequent violation. Officers issued 204 warnings and 248 citations to truck drivers. Seat belt use remains inconsistent despite decades of awareness campaigns. Nearly 14% of commercial motor vehicle drivers do not buckle up, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In Canada, about one-third of drivers and passengers killed in crashes in 2023 were unbelted.
Drugs, alcohol, and other violations
Fourteen commercial motor vehicle drivers received warnings and 22 were issued citations for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol.
Among other violations, truck drivers received 549 warnings and 254 citations for failure to obey traffic control devices. Two drivers failed to stop at a railroad grade crossing, getting two warnings. Fourteen warnings and three citations were handed out to truckers for failure to yield the right of way. Following too closely led to drivers receiving four warnings and three citations, while 44 drivers received warnings for following too closely. Over a hundred truck drivers were given out warnings (91) and citations (21) for improper lane change.
Other violations among truck drivers included improper passing and turn, operating a commercial vehicle while ill or fatigued, as well using/equipping a vehicle with radar or laser detectors.
