Michigan State Police motor carrier officers completed 1,218 commercial vehicle inspections during last week's Operation Safe Driver, resulting in 78 drivers and 231 vehicles being placed Out-Of-Service for safety reasons.  Officers conducted a total of 1,800 traffic stops and issued 1,162 citations, including 271 speeding citations. 

During the week-long operation, which was done in conjunction with federal and state enforcement officers from across the country and Canada, MSP motor carrier officers focused on identifying and stopping commercial motor vehicle drivers who engage in dangerous driving practices such as following too closely, speeding and improper lane use.  Officers also conducted safety inspections to ensure commercial vehicle drivers were in compliance with driver qualification and hours of service regulations. 

"Unsafe driving behavior is a major contributing factor in commercial vehicle traffic crashes," said Captain Robert R. Powers, Jr., MSP Traffic Safety Division commander.  "Focusing on drivers with dangerous driving practices will make the roads safer for everyone."

The operation was sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).