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FLORIDA - A new enforcement initiative, "Operation Southern Slow Down," began this week across Florida and four other southeastern states.
The operation is a week-long campaign focused on curbing speed-related crashes on highways and interstates.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and local law enforcement agencies are working together to increase patrols and reduce speeding violations.
The effort targets high-traffic areas, including major roads in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
This initiative aims to address the growing concerns of speeding-related accidents, which remain a significant cause of traffic fatalities.
The FHP and other agencies are working to enforce speed limits and remind drivers of the risks of dangerous driving.
Officers will issue citations for speeding and other violations, such as failure to wear seat belts and distracted driving.
The operation is part of a broader effort to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and encourage safer driving habits.
Law enforcement officials will also be monitoring for other unsafe driving behaviors, including texting and driving, as part of the campaign.
FHP Lt. Greg Bueno emphasized the importance of safety, urging drivers to slow down, put their phones away, and focus on the road.
The campaign is expected to run through the week, with increased law enforcement visibility on roads throughout the region.
Authorities hope the initiative will reduce the number of speed-related accidents and fatalities in the participating states.