• Unsafe driving is defined by FMCSA as operating a commercial motor vehicle in a “dangerous or careless manner.”

It has long been known that unsafe driving practices are a major contributor to commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accidents. Reckless driving, speeding, failing to yield the right-of-way, and other violations are closely related to a driver’s risk of getting into a crash. Unsafe driving practices are thought to dramatically increase a driver’s risk of being involved in a crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines unsafe driving as operating a commercial motor vehicle in a “dangerous or careless manner,” comprising over 40 distinct violations. Among them:

• Speeding or reckless driving,
• Improper lane changes,
• Inattention, texting, or using a hand-held cell phone,
• Using a radar detector,
• Operating a bus unsafely, and
• Smoking within 25 feet of a hazmat vehicle.

Performance on unsafe driving is measured using violations of certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and state traffic control laws recorded on roadside inspection reports.