Law Enforcement Launches “Operation Southern Slow Down” to Target Speeding Drivers Across Southeast

Drivers across the southeastern United States are being urged to hit the brakes as “Operation Southern Slow Down” returns for its ninth year. The regional speed enforcement and public awareness campaign will run from Monday, July 14, through Sunday, July 20, targeting aggressive and dangerous driving across five states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The multi-agency initiative, led in coordination with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and state highway safety offices, focuses on reducing speed-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities on interstates and major highways during the busy summer travel season.

“Speeding continues to be a deadly issue on our roads,” said a spokesperson for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. “Through education and enforcement, this campaign is a critical step toward changing driver behavior and saving lives.”

According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in over 11,000 traffic deaths nationwide in 2023 — a 27% jump compared to 2019. In the five participating southeastern states alone, 1,604 fatalities in 2023 were linked to speeding, representing a 13% increase over the same period.

Authorities say the campaign is designed to be both visible and proactive. Drivers can expect increased patrols, high-visibility law enforcement presence, and speed detection operations, particularly on high-crash corridors such as interstates 10, 20, 75, 85, and 95.

Officials stress that excessive speed not only reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden hazards but also dramatically increases the force of impact in the event of a crash.

“Speed limits are in place for a reason,” said NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson in a previous statement on the campaign. “They’re not suggestions — they are essential for protecting everyone on the road.”

Since its inception in 2017 (originally branded as “Operation Southern Shield”), the campaign has proven effective at raising awareness about the dangers of speeding. Partnering agencies include state police, local sheriff’s departments, and city police departments working in concert to prevent traffic deaths during the peak of summer travel.

Motorists are advised to obey posted speed limits, avoid aggressive driving, and allow extra time to reach their destinations. Those caught violating speed laws during the enforcement blitz could face steep fines and other penalties.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs released the following statement:

Drivers who feel the need for speed can expect to see blue lights in the rear-view mirror next week when “Operation Southern Slow Down” begins Monday in five southeastern states.  This is the ninth year for the regional week-long speed enforcement and awareness campaign that will run from July 14-20 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee

The campaign will kick off Monday with news conferences involving highway safety leaders and law enforcement in Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, East Ridge, Tennessee and Yulee, Florida. State and local law enforcement officers in the five states will spend the remainder of the week targeting speeding and aggressive driving on interstates and major highways in the five states.

Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior that endangers not only the speeding driver but other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists on the road.  Driving at faster speeds reduces the vehicle operator’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, object on the road or traveling through a curve in the roadway.  Speeding also increases the chances of being in a crash because faster speeds mean vehicles will take longer to stop if the operator has to brake suddenly.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,175  people were killed in crashes involving speeding in the United States in 2023, which is a 27 percent increase from 9,592 persons killed in crashes involving speeding in the U.S. in 2019.  Speeding was a factor in almost 30 percent of fatal crashes in the United States in 2023 compared to 25 percent in 2019.

According to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 1,604 people were killed in crashes involving speeding in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee in 2023.  This is a 13 percent increase from 2019 when 1,418 people died in crashes involving speeding in these five southeastern states. Speeding was a factor in one out of five persons killed in crashes in the southeast from 2019 through 2023.

“We all want to arrive at our destinations safely during this busy summer travel season, and this joint effort will serve as a strong reminder to obey traffic safety laws,” said Kenneth Boswell, Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. “We support our law enforcement officers in Alabama and the Southeast as they work hard to prevent injuries and deaths from automobile crashes.”

“Speeding threatens the lives of everyone on the road and that is why Georgia and our neighbors are sending the message that illegal and dangerous driving behaviors will not be tolerated,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  “The goal of ‘Operation Southern Slow Down’ is to not write tickets but for motorists to choose to put safety first by driving at slower and safer speeds.”

“Florida’s transportation system is meticulously engineered to maximize safety – it’s woven into every design plan, every education campaign, and every traffic safety law enforced by our law enforcement partners. Operation Southern Slow Down is a strong example of how each of these facets work together to create safer roadways,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “We encourage communities to join our efforts in creating a safer transportation future by recognizing the risks of unsafe driving behaviors, like speeding.”

“We look forward to working alongside our law enforcement counterparts across the Southeast to address the unnecessary choice to speed excessively,” said Robert G. Woods IV, Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. “This reckless decision behind the wheel is one of the top contributing factors for collisions in South Carolina. It’s unnecessary, dangerous, and not worth the risk. Through a collective, united effort such as this, we are able to focus our resources with a strong goal of driving down the number of speed-related collisions and fatalities.”

“You’re almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious-injury crash when you’re speeding,” said Buddy Lewis, Director of the Tennessee Office of Highway Safety. “Speeding lowers your reaction time, increases the risk of losing contro of your vehicle, and reduces the effectiveness of occupant protection equipment. Let’s work together to protect our roadways this summer. All we ask is for voluntary compliance.”

“Operation Southern Slow Down” began in 2017 when highway safety leaders in the region wanted to reduce crashes and save lives by reminding motorists of the danger speeding poses to all roadway users.  The campaign now runs during NHTSA’s “Speeding Slows You Down” education and enforcement campaign that runs from July 7-31.  Drivers will see more law enforcement on the road during both campaigns and drivers who are stopped for speeding can expect to get a ticket.

NHTSA and Region IV states offer the following tips for those traveling on the same road with speeding drivers:

• Give speeding drivers plenty of space

• If speeding drivers are following too closely, allow them to pass

• Stay out of the far-left lane unless it is passing another vehicle

• Always wear a seat belt

For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov or contact your local state highway safety office.