If you’ve been on the road much this week, you might have noticed an increased police presence. It’s now July, and it looks like the Florida Highway Patrol will be cracking down hard on summer speeders. What should you know about this summer’s speed campaign?
We’ve all had those kinds of days before. You know the ones. Your alarm didn’t go off or you managed to hit the snooze button a few too many times. You’re rushing to get ready and finally make it out the door. Now that you’re in your car and on the way in to the office, it feels like everyone else on the road is conspiring against you to make your drive as long as possible. It’s times like this when it’s so tempting to get a little heavy footed with the pedal.
I’d recommend you resist the temptation, especially this week.
Southern Speed Crackdown
It’s time for Operation Southern Shield again. Last year, several law enforcement departments from several states joined together in a campaign to catch or prevent speeders. They’re now back for 2018. If you’re driving through the south from July 16th to the 22nd, expect red and blue lights. Here are the states involved this year:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
If you live in any of these states or plan on travelling through them, make sure you’re extra vigilant while monitoring your speed. In last year’s operation, law enforcement in these states received national attention for their campaign against speed. This year, they’re back to continue the message.
While speed is the focus of the campaign, it’s not all that the officers will be looking for. The goal of Operation Southern Shield is to make the southern roadways as safe as possible. Even if you aren’t heavy on the gas, you can still expect to be pulled over if you aren’t taking every safety precaution required.
Law enforcement will also be looking for any drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts or who are distracted behind the wheel. I hope you’re all driving safe and are free from distractions every day. Even so, I recommend you are extra careful this week.
Is Speed Really a Big Deal?
So, what’s the big deal? Is law enforcement looking to drum up some extra ticket money, or is fighting speed that important? In my experience, it’s absolutely that important. You don’t have to take my word for it, there is a wealth of information available online. Let’s look at some statistics from the year 2014, provided by the Federal Highway Administration:
- 9,262 speeding-related fatalities
- 28% of all traffic fatalities were speeding-related
- 245 speeding-related fatalities in Florida
The fact is, speeding is an incredibly dangerous activity. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’ll be fine going a bit over the speed limit, but the facts prove that thousands die every year due to speed. Is it worth getting to where you’re going a couple of minutes early when it could cost you a life?
Contact Brooks Law Group
If you or a loved one has been the victim of someone else’s negligence, especially due to excessive speed, call us today at (800) LAW-3030. When you call, you’ll receive immediate access to one of our intake specialists who will guide you through our free consultation process. Our clients don’t owe us anything unless we recover money for their case. Find out more about how Brooks Law Group can help you receive the compensation you’re owed. Fill out our case evaluation form (located on the right side of the screen on our website) or call our offices today.
