JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Law enforcement in Florida is cracking down on speeding and aggressive driving.
It is part of a week-long speed enforcement campaign with the Florida Department of Transportation known as "Operation Southern Slowdown." Its purpose is to remind drivers to safely share the road.
The campaign, in partnership with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV), involves multiple states in the Southeast — Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The goal: a collective aim to reduce the number of speed-related crashes and, ultimately, bring the number of traffic fatalities down to zero.
Between 2019 and 2023, officials said speeding contributed to nearly 10% of fatalities in Florida.
Most of the traffic fatalities involved young males between the ages of 16 and 25. Officials said speeding endangers everyone and the local roads are more dangerous for speeders than highways.
Lt. Dean Lewis knows all too well the dangers of speeding. On the First Coast, Lewis mentioned how he has seen drivers go as fast as 100 miles per hour on interstates 10, 95 and 295.
"I work in traffic homicide where have the unfortunate responsibility of making 'next of kin' notifications to families," Lewis said. "It's very difficult. It's very hard. This is a good initiative."
FHSMV data from 2022 showed more than 500 fatalities due to aggressive driving and speeding. They said one road had 40% of the vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
Operation Southern Slowdown will last until July 24.