ATLANTA — Travelers to Georgia during Southern Shield week July 20-26 can expect to see state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and police officers enforcing all traffic laws. The goal will be to prevent crashes by stopping motorists who are endangering public safety on Georgia roads by speeding, driving distracted, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and other violations of the state’s traffic laws.
The program has had success since its start in 2017. Traffic deaths were down by 35 percent that year and 22 percent the next.
Last year’s campaign was run during the period of July 15-21. The success can be seen by comparing data from earlier in the month. In the first two weeks of July there were seventy deaths compared to about 50 in the final weeks of the same month. Traffic deaths in Georgia decreased 29 percent the last two weeks of the month.
This will be the fourth year, for the week-long, very successful campaign. The traffic deaths in the previous three years were down during the week of the program.
‘Operation Southern Shield’ has a goal of reminding drivers about the dangers of speeding along highways and interstates. There has been a rise in the number of speeders as some take advantage of fewer drivers on the roadways due to COVID-19.
Drivers should slow down or be prepared to see flashing blue lights in their rear-view mirror. ‘Operation Southern Shield’, a speed-enforcement campaign, is set to begin Monday, July 20.