Motorists across Georgia and four other southeastern states are put on notice: “Operation Southern Slow Down,” a week-long speed enforcement and awareness campaign, begins this Sunday, July 14, and runs through July 20. Drivers caught speeding risk receiving a ticket as state and local law enforcement intensify patrols.

This marks the ninth year for the coordinated regional effort, which will see intensified enforcement targeting speeding and aggressive driving on interstates and major highways in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The campaign will officially kick off Monday with news conferences involving highway safety leaders and law enforcement in key cities, including Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah in Georgia, East Ridge, Tennessee, and Jacksonville, Florida.

Speeding is consistently cited as a significant factor in traffic fatalities, posing a serious threat to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike. Driving at higher speeds severely limits a vehicle operator’s ability to react, steer safely around obstacles, or navigate curves effectively. It also significantly increases the time and distance required for a vehicle to come to a complete stop, heightening the risk of severe collisions.

The grim statistics underscore the urgency of the campaign. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of people killed in speeding-related crashes in Georgia surged by nearly 35 percent over a five-year period. In 2023 alone, 349 individuals died in crashes involving at least one speeding driver in Georgia, a stark increase from 260 deaths in 2019. Speeding was a contributing factor in one out of every five traffic deaths in the state between 2019 and 2023.

Regionally, the data is equally concerning. NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) indicates that 1,604 people were killed in crashes involving speeding across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee in 2023. This represents a 13 percent increase from 2019, when 1,418 lives were lost under similar circumstances. Speeding contributed to one in five crash fatalities in the Southeast from 2019 through 2023.

Highway safety leaders from each participating state emphasized the campaign’s critical mission.

“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,” stated Allen Poole, Director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. He added, “The goal of ‘Operation Southern Slow Down’ is to not write tickets but for motorists to put safety first by choosing to drive at slower and safer speeds.”

Kenneth Boswell, Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, echoed this sentiment: “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.”

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E., highlighted the state’s safety commitment. “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,” Perdue said.

From South Carolina, Director Robert G. Woods IV of the Department of Public Safety called speeding an “unnecessary, dangerous, and not worth the risk” decision. “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,” he noted.

Buddy Lewis, Director of the Tennessee Office of Highway Safety, provided a stark warning: “You’re almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious-injury crash when you’re speeding… All we ask is for voluntary compliance.”

During last year’s “Operation Southern Slow Down” campaign, Georgia law enforcement issued 12,544 citations and warnings, including 8,900 for speeding. Additionally, 446 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence, and 1,231 citations or warnings were issued for distracted driving during the week-long initiative in Georgia. Across all five participating states, officers issued a total of 62,258 citations and warnings, with 49,558 specifically for speeding.

“Operation Southern Slow Down” was first launched in 2017 by regional highway safety leaders aiming to reduce crashes and save lives by highlighting the dangers of speeding. The campaign now runs concurrently with NHTSA’s broader “Speeding Slows You Down” education and enforcement initiative, which spans from July 7-31. Motorists should anticipate an increased law enforcement presence and a zero-tolerance approach to speeding throughout both campaigns.

NHTSA and the Region IV states offer critical advice for those sharing the road with speeding drivers:

• Give speeding drivers ample space.
• If speeding drivers are following too closely, allow them to pass.
• Stay out of the far-left lane unless actively passing another vehicle.
• Always wear a seat belt.