COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in a new traffic enforcement and educational campaign called “Operation Safe Driver,” which will take place October 21-28, 2007. The new campaign aims to reduce crashes involving passenger vehicles and large trucks by emphasizing driver behavior and performance.

Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspectors and Troopers will focus on removing unsafe and fatigued drivers from Ohio roadways, as well as, educating drivers on safe and proper driving techniques. They will also enforce a zero-tolerance policy for drivers stopped for a violation that are not wearing their safety belt. Troopers will also be on the look out for non-commercial vehicles that are driving in an unsafe manner around commercial vehicles.

Based on provisional statistics, through June of this year there were 78 commercial vehicle-related fatal crashes resulting in 86 deaths. Of these fatal crashes, 69% were the fault of the non-commercial driver.

“Educating the driver behind the wheel is the first line of defense in preventing fatal and injury crashes,” said Colonel Richard H. Collins, Patrol Superintendent. “It is imperative that drivers be aware of the other drivers on the roadways and that they wear their safety belts.”

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