The Florida Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol, will launch Operation Southern Slow Down 2025 on Monday, July 14. The week-long, multi-state speed enforcement and education campaign aims to reduce speed-related crashes and save lives across Florida and the Southeastern United States.

This coordinated initiative includes participation from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with the shared goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by targeting excessive speeding—a leading contributor to deadly crashes.

Speeding was a factor in nearly 10% of traffic fatalities in Florida between 2019 and 2023. Of those, 84% involved male drivers, most between the ages of 16 and 25. In response, Operation Southern Slow Down focuses on both enforcement and education to change dangerous behaviors behind the wheel and promote a culture of safety on the roads.

FDOT and its law enforcement partners are reminding drivers that roadway safety depends not only on infrastructure but also on the personal responsibility of every motorist. The campaign is designed to show how individual choices—like obeying the speed limit—can have life-saving results.

The effort will feature increased speed enforcement across participating states, along with a robust public awareness push to educate drivers about the risks of speeding and the importance of safe driving habits.

With more people traveling during the summer months, leaders across the Southeast are uniting to encourage motorists to slow down, buckle up, and stay focused. The campaign supports local law enforcement as they work to prevent injuries and deaths from traffic crashes.

FDOT Safe Driving Tips:

  • Always wear your seatbelt and ensure all passengers are buckled up.

  • Plan your route in advance using FL511.com and allow extra time for delays.

  • Eliminate distractions, including cell phones, before you drive.

  • Reduce your speed in construction zones and school zones.

  • Keep a safe following distance and practice patience on the road.

  • Report aggressive or dangerous driving by dialing *FHP (*347) or 911.

Operation Southern Slow Down 2025 serves as a critical reminder: slowing down saves lives. FDOT urges all drivers to take part in making Florida’s roads safer for everyone.

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Positively Osceola – Making a Positive Difference in and around Osceola County