News

Operation Southern Slow Down

  • Operation Southern Slow Down brings partners together to work towards our collective vision of getting everyone home safely. This multi-state effort aims to enforce speed limits and educate the public on the dangers of speeding. The campaign focuses on interstates and state highways across the Southeast, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  The campaign was born in 2017 when the five states comprising the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 4 decided to unite for a common cause—reducing speed-related crashes and ultimately saving lives. The campaign occurs annually in the third week of July, targeting zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
  • Florida Department of Transportation is proud to partner with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Florida Highway Patrol along with state and local law enforcement, and our counterparts in neighboring states. Together, we are working to create a unified front against speeding.
  • Our strategies are grounded in rigorous data analysis. These statistics guide our engineering decisions, helping us identify high-risk areas and prioritize them for safety improvements, because these are more than just numbers; they represent family members, loved ones, and friends.
  • At FDOT, safety isn’t just a priority; it’s our mission. We are steadfast in our commitment to improving safety for all transportation users. We are enhancing this commitment by adopting a holistic approach that focuses on modifying driver behavior alongside our proactive engineering countermeasures across facilities statewide. Initiatives like “Operation Southern Slow Down” exemplify this effort. We are integrating traffic data with crash statistics to provide actionable insights for planning and implementing various safety initiatives.
  • FDOT continually works to improve our roadways through advanced engineering solutions. Our efforts include the implementation of road safety audits, the redesign of high-risk intersections, and the installation of speed-calming measures such as roundabouts, speed humps, and enhanced signage.
  • Roadways are engineered for specific speed limits, taking into account various factors such as road conditions, traffic flow, and pedestrian activity. Compliance with speed limits is crucial to maintaining the integrity of these safety measures and preventing serious injuries and fatalities.
  • Speed limits are not mere suggestions; they are carefully calculated guidelines designed to ensure the safety of all road users. Exceeding these limits not only violates the law but also poses a significant threat to public safety.
  • It’s important to recognize that safety is a collective endeavor that extends beyond engineering and enforcement. We are here today to emphasize the importance of motorists making smart driving decisions. Safety can’t be achieved without drivers also taking responsibility.
  • Speeding isn’t just breaking the law; it’s a life-threatening behavior. The increased velocity and force of impact in a crash negate the effectiveness of safety equipment like safety belts and airbags. Speeding also leads to less vehicle control, increased stopping distances, and a greater risk to others on the road.
  • We encourage all Floridians to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others by making smart driving decisions. Remember, speeding is not just a violation of the law—it significantly increases the risk of crashes and the severity of injuries.
  • Important Safety Tips and Reminders:
    • Faster speeds require longer stopping distances.
    • Stopping distance quadruples when you double your speed.
    • Allow more stopping time for larger vehicles, especially on wet or uneven pavement.
    • Slow down when approaching curves and apply brakes before entering the curve.
    • Set a good example for young drivers by adhering to speed limits.
    • Always use your safety belt and ensure all passengers are buckled up.
    • Exercise additional caution in construction and school zones.
    • Plan ahead to avoid peak traffic and give yourself ample time to reach your destination safely.

 

 

Related Posts

Back To Top