The Dalton Police Department is joining forces with law enforcement agencies across Georgia and the southeast to slow down speeding drivers on our roadways. The “Operation Southern Shield” speed enforcement and awareness campaign is underway from July 20th-26th across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Dalton officers, including the Traffic Unit, will be focused on both speed enforcement and education during the campaign.

This is the fourth year that the Dalton Police Department has participated in “Operation Southern Shield.” In the first three years of the program, law enforcement noted sharp decreases in the number of traffic deaths on Georgia’s roads. In 2019, traffic deaths went down by 29 percent in the two weeks of the campaign compared to the two weeks prior. In 2017, the Operation Southern Shield campaign coincided with a 25 percent reduction in traffic deaths in Georgia.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a reduction of the number of cars on Georgia’s highways which has led to more speeding.

”The sharp decrease in the number of people traveling on our roads during the pandemic has not led to a corresponding drop in the number of traffic deaths according to preliminary data from the Georgia Department of Transportation,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. “The increased speeding this year is further proof driving over the speed limit significantly increases your chances of being in a crash that results in severe or fatal injuries.”

Speed kills. In 2018, one out of every five traffic deaths in Georgia was related to speeding.

Slow down and arrive alive. Speed, and you might just get a ticket. Especially this week.