Beware of Florida speeders!
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has partnered with the Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies to participate in the annual “Operation Southern Slow Down” campaign. This joint initiative is in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
To curb speeding and aggressive driving, the Tallahassee Police Department and other agencies have planned to increase their presence.
Col. Gary L. Howze, the director of the Florida Highway Patrol, expressed in a recent blog post on the FHP’s website that they will be collaborating with various law enforcement partners to ensure highway safety. He stated that FHP troopers will be closely monitoring traffic for reckless drivers and enforcing traffic laws on Florida’s state highways to support Operations Southern Slowdown.
According to initial reports from the FLHSMV, there have been over 13,296 crashes in Florida in 2022 due to excessive speeding or driving too fast for conditions. Shockingly, speeding has been responsible for 10.5% of all crash fatalities across the state, leading to over 368 tragic fatalities.
In a recent social media post, TPD reminded drivers to maintain their patience while driving and adhere to the speed limit signs.
When will ‘Operation Southern Slowdown’ be in force?
From July 15-20, state and local law enforcement agencies in all five states will launch a week-long speed enforcement awareness campaign. The campaign aims to save lives and prevent reckless driving and speeding.
Tips provided by the Florida Highway Patrol
While you are on the move, there are a few guidelines to ensure your safety on Florida’s roads this summer.
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- Anticipate increased traffic during peak travel periods. Plan ahead and give yourself ample drive time.
- Buckle up and make sure all passengers are buckled up the entire trip.
- Slow down in construction zones. Keep in mind that construction increases during the summer season.
- No matter how eager you are to reach your destination, speeding and driving aggressively is dangerous. Stay patient and give other road users plenty of space.
- Slow down at twilight hours and at night for wildlife crossing the roads.
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