Operation Southern Slow Down in effect

Patrol officers with the Cedartown Police Department are teaming up with agencies across the state and the south in an effort to curb speeding along US 27.

Motorists can expect to see an increased presence in policing along the heavily traveled state highways this week.This increased patrolling is part of a public safety campaign called Operation Southern Slow Down.

It launched Monday, July 15, in five southeastern states, including Georgia. The operation is a team effort between state and local law enforcement agencies to curtail the increase of people driving over the speed limit. Speeding continues to be an issue on major interstates and local streets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 12,151 people were killed in crashes involving speeding in the United States in 2022, according to the most recent data available.

That is a 28% increase from the 9,592 people killed in crashes involving speeding in the U.S. in 2019.In Georgia, the number of passengers who died in crashes involving speeding increased by 56% from 2018 to 2022, according to the NHTSA."Crash data shows speeding is a growing problem in our nation but team efforts like 'Operation Southern Slow Down' will help put the brakes on this dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of everyone traveling on our highways and roads," said Allen Poole, Director of the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety."State troopers and local law enforcement officers enforce speed limits to save lives and drivers can help make sure they and everyone traveling on the road safely reach their destination by slowing down, buckling up and keeping their focus on the road at all times."

The Cedartown Police Department urges motorists to:

Abide by the posted speed limit.

Give speeding drivers plenty of space.

If speeding drivers are following too closely, allow them to pass.

Stay out of the far-left lane unless they are passing another vehicle.

Always wear a seat belt.

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