Watch your speed while driving around this week.
Monday kicks off the second “Operation Southern Shield.” The speed enforcement campaign runs until July 21.
The week-long program aims to get drivers to slow down, follow the rules of the road and to arrive alive.
Expect to see more law enforcement on the road and blue lights.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol said it’s lowering its speed tolerance to get the message across.“You may get a citation, you may simply get a written warning or an oral warning, but we want to make as many contacts with drivers as possible to make sure you understand the severity of your actions if you speed,” said THP Lt. Bill Miller.
Tennessee Highway Safety representative and Cocke County Chief Deputy Derrick Woods said "Operation Southern Shield" is different than any other speed enforcement project the highway patrol has ever done because of the amount of officers involved.
"This week we have specifically emphasized that we will be enforcing speed enforcement throughout the states, counties and cities to let the public know that we are committed to our goal of keeping our roadways safe so that they can arrive to their destination safely," Woods said.
The operation is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tennessee is one of five states participating.