‘Operation Southern Slow Down’ Targets Speeding Drivers Across the Southeast

Drivers across the Southeast are being urged to ease off the gas pedal as law enforcement ramps up efforts to crack down on speeding. From July 14 to July 20, “Operation Southern Slow Down” will bring heightened enforcement to interstates and state highways in five southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The annual campaign, launched in 2017, aims to reduce speed-related crashes and save lives. To mark the start of the 2025 campaign, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) hosted press events in Franklin, Collierville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Kingsport to remind motorists to slow down and obey traffic laws. THSO Director Buddy Lewis emphasized that speeding is a deadly choice and urged drivers to voluntarily comply with speed limits in order to protect themselves and others on the road. The week-long operation coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Speeding Slows You Down” campaign, which runs through July 31. Law enforcement officers across all five participating states will be increasing patrols and issuing citations to drivers who exceed posted speed limits. According to the NHTSA, 11,175 people were killed in speed-related crashes in the U.S. in 2023 — a 27% increase from 2019. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee alone, 1,604 people died in such crashes last year, up 13% from 2019. Speeding contributed to nearly 30% of all fatal crashes nationwide in 2023. Officials hope the increased enforcement and public awareness will encourage drivers to make safer choices behind the wheel.