Law enforcement in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina will be stepping up speed enforcement starting Monday for Operation Southern Shield.

The operation, which will target interstate highways, major state highways and local roads, will run through Sunday, July 22.

“Our troopers are dedicated to participating in collaborative enforcement efforts like Operation Southern Shield, that encourages motorists to drive safely and slow down,” said Georgia Department of Public Safety commissioner Col. Mark W. McDonough in a news release. “Our main focus this week is reducing crashes and providing a safer transportation experience for motorists traveling in our state.”

During last year’s operation July 17-23, there were 25 traffic deaths reported in Georgia, a number smaller than all the other weeks in July 2017.

The effort led to 12,469 speeding citations, 552 suspected DUI drivers and 472 felony arrests between Georgia State Patrol and local law enforcement, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Compiled by Nick Watson