Traffic speed control device on highway monitoring vehicles speeding – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by bibiphoto
In Florida and four other southeastern states, a campaign to “save lives and discourage reckless driving and speeding” kicked off on Monday.
“Operation Southern Slow Down” will take place from Monday, July 18, through Saturday, July 23, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and regional law enforcement organizations.
During the speed-enforcement campaign, “state troopers and local law enforcement officers will conduct concentrated enforcement on interstates and state highways.”
“Operation Southern Slow Down” is a joint effort with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and per its website, “for more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.”
In Florida, there have been a total of 1,590 fatal collisions since the start of this year. 1,718 individuals have perished and 1,138 people have been injured as a result of those deadly collisions.
In the Tampa Bay area, 371 of those fatal collisions have injured 286 and killed 400 people.
To view the fatal crashes in your county, visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) dashboard.
“Operation Southern Slow Down” will also run in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
“Slow down,” Georgia officials said on Monday. “It’s very simple. Get to that destination safely and alive.”
Federal data from the first four years of Operation Southern Slow Down revealed a 2% decrease in road fatalities overall in the five states, and people are better aware of speeding laws and their repercussions.
“Should you be stopped for exceeding the speed limit over 30 miles per hour, you’re gonna go before a judge,” Lt. Greg Bueno with FHP said. “It’s up to the discretion of the judge for your punishment… if you’re going over 50 miles per hour, there are enhanced penalties for fines. In addition, there are enhanced penalties for having your license suspended, all the way up to a possible 10-year revocation for multiple violations.”
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
