“Operation Southern Shield” July 19 – 24

Tallahassee, FL – A week-long speed enforcement campaign “Operation Southern Shield” is a collaboration between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). It’s a joint effort with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the southeastern states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. What this means for drivers is an increased law enforcement presence across the five southeast U.S. states. Troopers will be specifically focused on detecting and citing drivers for exceeding the posted speed limits across interstate corridors. “Nationwide, there is a dangerous trend in fatalities and crashes caused by excessive speed, and, though it may seem harmless, the choice to speed is a deadly one,” said FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “FDOT remains committed to the goal of zero fatalities on Florida’s roadways  and we are proud to join ‘Operation Southern Shield’ as well as support our law enforcement partners in this life-saving effort.” Preliminary 2020 data from FLHSMV shows traffic fatalities increased by 4.67% from 2019 to 2020, despite a 15.31% decrease in total crashes statewide. In 2020, speeding was a contributing factor in approximately 12% of traffic crash fatalities statewide, resulting in nearly 400 fatalities. “Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all road users around them, including law enforcement officers and other public safety workers,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “The Florida Highway Patrol is pleased to partner with our neighboring states and local law enforcement agencies in our continued effort to make Florida’s roadways safer for all.”