Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement teamed up with agencies across the continent last week in an effort to improve commercial driver behaviors through effective enforcement, education and awareness.
Operation Safe Driver Week took place July 15-21 and included officers from the Westlock area as well as a radar position, set up July 19 at the Westlock Inn parking lot.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement teamed up with the RCMP, as well as peace officers from both the town and the county to take part in the initiative.
“We are members of what is called the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) .,. and the CVSA program has a North America wide initiative for this week to conduct this Operation Safe Driver,” said Sgt. Rob Livingstone, who is based in Slave Lake, but oversees the Westlock area for Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
“Basically, what it has us focusing on is things like moving violations, so distracted driving, speeding, stop signs, failing to signal, improper turns. Any of those kind of moving behaviors that people aren’t remembering to do.”
In just the few days the initiative had been underway when Livingstone spoke to the News July 18, they had already dealt with all of these moving violations, including seven seat-belt tickets and three speeding vehicles.
The week wasn’t just about writing tickets though. A large aspect of the operation was to increase public awareness about safely operating around large commercial vehicles. As well as to educate and remind motor carrier drivers of the rules and regulations of their industry.
“We’re also trying to educate the public on the size and the weight that comes with commercial vehicles and not cutting in front of them and jumping on their brakes and causing that big, heavy load to shift or not stop effectively,” said Livingstone.
“Sometimes the cars just don’t have the patience for what the trucks can and can’t do.”
Livingstone pointed out they would be using thermal imaging, the same type one would find in police helicopters, to help with the initiative.
“We use it in the inspection process normally, where we would look for heat differences ... For this initiative now we’re using its big, strong lens to get pictures of people talking on their cellphones, or not wearing their seatbelts. We’re just using the tools we have in different means, that we don’t always necessarily use them in,” said Livingstone.
Editor’s Note: With files from Eric Bowling.
