New Jersey motorists who drive too fast should beware. From July 14 to 20, law enforcement officers throughout North America will be targeting speeding drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, an annual event sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
According to the CVSA, speeding drivers have been involved in almost a third of all traffic fatalities for over 20 years. In addition, statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that speeding played a part in 94% of all motor vehicle accidents in 2015. Speed also contributed to 26% of all traffic deaths in 2017. Because of this, CVSA chose to make speed a special focus in this year’s event.
During the initiative, participating officers will be on the lookout for drivers of commercial and passenger vehicles who are traveling above the posted speed limit. Offenders will then be issued either a warning or a citation. In addition to speeders, officers will also be looking for drivers who are texting while driving, following other cars too closely, making improper lane changes, failing to obey traffic lights, driving recklessly or not wearing seat belts. Officers participating in last year’s initiative issued over 57,400 citations. Of those citations, nearly 19,000 were issued for speeding violations. A CVSA study on the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign found that citations issued during the initiative reduced traffic accidents significantly.
A speeding driver is a negligent driver. If an accident happens as a result, occupants of other vehicles who have been injured might find it advisable to have legal assistance when seeking compensation for their losses.
