Federal transportation officials have pulled hundreds of unqualified truck drivers off U.S. roads following a nationwide enforcement blitz aimed at improving highway safety — and the results are raising serious alarms.
During a three-day operation known as Operation SafeDRIVE, federal and state authorities conducted more than 8,200 inspections across 26 states and Washington, D.C. The effort resulted in nearly 2,000 drivers being removed from service, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Among those sidelined were roughly 500 truckers who failed basic English proficiency requirements, a standard required for safely operating commercial vehicles in the United States. Federal officials say language barriers can prevent drivers from reading road signs, understanding safety instructions, or communicating with law enforcement — all of which increase the risk of deadly crashes.
In total, 704 drivers were placed out of service, 1,231 vehicles were deemed unsafe, and 56 individuals were arrested, including some for DUI offenses and illegal presence in the country.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over deadly crashes involving foreign national truck drivers who entered the U.S. illegally but later obtained commercial driver’s licenses through questionable processes. One recent fatal accident involving a foreign national who failed to stop for traffic has intensified scrutiny of how unqualified drivers are being allowed behind the wheel of massive commercial vehicles.
Transportation officials said the operation focused on distracted, reckless, and impaired driving, as well as violations tied to visibility and licensing standards. The findings, they say, highlight systemic failures in enforcement — from the border to state licensing agencies — that are putting American motorists at risk.
Critics argue the results of Operation SafeDRIVE confirm what many have warned for years: weak immigration enforcement and lax credentialing standards are spilling directly onto America’s highways, with potentially deadly consequences.
As crashes mount and enforcement finally tightens, calls are growing for tougher oversight, stricter licensing standards, and a renewed focus on public safety, not political convenience.
- Article Source:
news.basedapparel.com
- Photo:
