Next week, five southern states’ state and local law enforcement agencies will work together to combat reckless driving.
The yearly program, called Operation Southern Slow Down, will involve coordinated enforcement in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee from July 14 to July 20.
Speeding deaths increased from 2019-2023
The campaign, now in its ninth year, aims to curb aggressive driving and excessive speeding on key routes in order to lower the number of traffic accidents and fatalities. Roadside checkpoints, heightened patrols, and public education to promote safe driving habits are all part of the initiative.
Authorities stress that speeding still poses a serious threat to public safety. Georgia saw 349 speed-related fatalities in 2023, up from 260 in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This represents a nearly 35% increase over a five-year period. Last year, 1,604 people died in speed-related collisions in all five of the campaign’s participating states, a 13% increase since 2019.
Allen Poole, head of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, stated that speeding puts everyone on the road at risk for death. Operation Southern Slow Down aims to encourage drivers to prioritize safety by choosing to drive at slower and safer speeds rather than issuing penalties.
Expect visible police presence
The campaign kicks out Monday with news conferences in East Ridge, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Florida, and Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah, Georgia. Enforcement actions will focus on interstates and busy routes after the kickoff.
Throughout the week, law enforcement organizations such as the Georgia State Patrol, county sheriffs, and municipal police departments will be prominently displayed. Nearly 9,000 of the more than 12,500 penalties and cautions that Georgia police issued during the previous year’s campaign were for speeding. In addition, 1,231 tickets for distracted driving and 446 DUI arrests were made by the authorities.
Over 62,000 fines and warnings were issued in the five states as a result of the campaign in 2024, with about 50,000 of those being for speeding infractions alone.
The NHTSA’s broader Speeding Slows You Down campaign, which runs through July, includes this regional activity.
Reminding drivers to put safety first is done by:
- Keeping a safe distance from speeding vehicles
- Allowing tailgaters to pass
- Using the left lane only for passing
- Wearing a seat belt at all times
Visit the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety website for further information on enforcement activities and safe driving advice.
