Southern Slow Down in effect as cops go on the hunt for speeders

DAYTONA BEACH - Speeding and reckless driving have consequences that go beyond fines, points on your driver's license and jail time.

It takes lives, said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.

Woods, a former motorcycle deputy and a traffic homicide investigator, spoke at the launch of Operation Southern Slow Down at a press conference held at Daytona International Speedway on July 13.

The event was hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation and Daytona International Speedway.

Operation Southern Slow Down is a week-long traffic enforcement campaign aimed at encouraging drivers to respect posted speed limits and make safer choices behind the wheel, said Florida Highway Patrol Troop D Commander Major Mark Castleberry.

The week-long traffic enforcement from July 13-18 will be conducted in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Castleberry said.

Speeding and reckless driving kills, Marion County sheriff says

To drive home his message of how dangerous speeding is, Woods shared two stories of horrific crashes he worked as a traffic homicide investigator. The first involved two motorcycle buddies who parted ways after a night together and both were killed minutes apart while on their way home, Woods said.

One motorcyclist slammed into the side of a vehicle at 148 mph, and the other rear-ended a vehicle at 163 mph.

To further illustrate the impact of speeding, Woods also told the story of a young woman in her 20s who slammed into a concrete wall going 136 mph. The car caught fire and the woman and her three friends died, Woods said.

"So, if you want to know consequences, it's not necessarily the fines or going to jail. It's lives," Woods said. "(These) consequences, well, you can't get them back."

Operation Southern Slow Down means more cops on local roads and highways, FHP commander said

The coordinated traffic safety campaign under the leadership of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, means that Florida troopers, deputies and police will be conducting high visibility enforcement on both local roads and major interstates, Castleberry said.

And those driving more than a 100 mph will be arrested and charged under the Florida Super Speeder Law, Castleberry said.

Operation Southern Slow Down traffic enforcement means more than just issuing traffic citations to speeders and reckless drivers, the FHP commander said.

"Their presence is intended to deter dangerous behavior and re-enforce the fact that roadway safety is a responsibility we all share," Castleberry said. "The purpose of these efforts is not simply to issue citations but to prevent crashes and save lives."

Increase in crashes and deaths makes operation important, Port Orange police chief says

Local law enforcement officials said the increase in the number of accidents they see makes Operation Southern Slow down very important.

Port Orange Police Chief Manuel Marino reported that in 2025, a high number of accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians occurred in cities across Central Florida. Marino said that 2,075 crashes involving pedestrians accounted for 147 fatalities. Another 1,900 accidents involving bicycles resulted in 40 fatalities in 2025, Marino said.

"The amount of crashes that we see on our local roads in particular in and around neighboring communities is just astounding for us," Marino said.

Castleberry also said that in the first year that the Florida Super Speeder law was passed, Florida troopers charged 777 people for driving 100 mph or more.

And in Marion County, so far this year, deputies have issued 1,500 citations for speeding. There have been more than 2,700 accidents in unincorporated areas of Marion County, and 635 of them involved injuries with 37 fatalities, Woods said.

The immediate statistics in Volusia and Flagler counties were not immediately available, but according to the Florida Highway Patrol, Volusia County, so far this year, has had 4,012 crashes. Fifty-two people have been killed and 2,612 have been injured.

Florida Highway Patrol numbers also show that Flagler County so far this year has reported 648 crashes with 10 fatalities, and 459 injuries.

Woods said the high number of accidents directly points to speeding.

"Slow down," Woods said when asked what his message to drivers was.

Or as he told those at the press conference, "We are going to write your ass tickets. It's as plain and simple as that."

― Patricio G. Balona is a crime and public safety reporter covering Volusia County and occasionally Flagler County. His coverage areas include Daytona Beach, DeLand, Ormond Beach, and beyond.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Southern Slow Down in effect as cops go on the hunt for speeders

Reporting by Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal

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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM.