Today kicked off a multi-state crack-down on speeding in the southeast.
The safety campaign, Operation Southern Slow Down, was created to increase enforcement on major highways and interstates during travel periods when fatality rates are at the highest.
The five day enforcement period which runs from July 15th to July 19th this year will ramp up enforcement through several southern states including Tennessee.
The Tennessee department of public safety has spearheaded the operation over the past eight years and says the importance is too great, as travel picks up.
Lt. Bill Miller with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) says in 2022 alone, there was a 25% increase in speed related deaths since 2018 and in our state alone it was a 14 % increase. “Speed is killing people at a dramatic rate,” Miller said.
Lieutenant Miller says during this time period – speeding will not be taken lightly and people will be ticketed.
In addition to the THP, some local departments in the state will also be taking part as well as highway patrol and departments of safety in other states including Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
