The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has held its annual Operation Southern Slow Down 2024, a week-long speed enforcement and education campaign.
The campaign, in partnership with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), is part of a broader effort involving multiple states in the Southeast—Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee—and aims to reduce the number of speed-related crashes and, ultimately, bring the number of traffic fatalities down to zero.
The FDOT said speeding is a significant factor in traffic fatalities across Florida, contributing to nearly ten per cent of these fatalities statewide between 2019 and 2023. Demographic data reveals that young male drivers are particularly at risk, with 84 per cent of speeding-involved fatalities involving male drivers, predominantly those aged 16-25.
“Operation Southern Slow Down represents our collective vision towards creating a safer, fatality-free future on our roadways – one that goes beyond our engineering countermeasures and addresses the driver behaviors, like speeding, that place all road users at risk,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E.
The FDOT has offered the following tips for safe driving:
- Buckle up for every trip and ensure all passengers wear safety belts.
- Plan your route in advance on FL511.com and allow extra time for traffic during peak travel times.
- Remain alert and always drive with caution – put away all distractions, like cell phones, every time you get behind the wheel.
- Remember to reduce speed in construction and school zones to enhance road safety.
- Practice patience and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
