“Operation Southern Slow Down” will commence across the Southeast beginning Sunday, July 14. This joint effort between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee will run through Saturday, July 20.
State and local law enforcement agencies in all five states, including the Clemson University Police Department (CUPD), will be conducting a week-long speed enforcement awareness campaign aimed at saving lives and preventing reckless driving and speeding. “Operation Southern Slow Down” is a part of SC’s Target Zero campaign, striving for zero traffic fatalities in the state.
Know the dangers of speeding
According to the NHTSA, more than 12,000 people were killed and over 300,000 were injured in speed-related crashes in 2022. In addition, data shows about 24% of drivers 18-44 involved in fatal crashes were speeding. In 2022, 35% of male drivers 15-20 and 32% of male drivers 21-24 involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
No matter how advanced your driving skills are, speeding is dangerous. Speeding:
- Reduces your ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve.
- Extends the time it takes your vehicle to stop.
- Increases the risk of a crash because other vehicles and pedestrians may not be able to judge your distance correctly.
- Can increase the severity of injuries if you’re involved in a crash.
For more facts about speeding, visit NHTSA.gov/speeding.