State traffic enforcement officers in Georgia are working with their counterparts in four other southeastern states this week in a traffic enforcement campaign that targets traffic violations most commonly identified as contributing factors in fatal traffic crashes.

The program, “Take Back Our Highways”, is a project of the Alabama Department of Public Safety and this year includes state law enforcement officers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The campaign will end on Memorial Day.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said troopers and MCCD officers are concentrating on speeders, impaired drivers, and motorists not wearing safety belts or properly restraining children. He noted MCCD officers will be conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the state during the week as well.

This is the second year that all of the states bordering Alabama will be participating in the campaign.

Troopers remind motorists to obey the posted speed limits and be aware of reduced speeds in construction and school zones; buckle up and make sure children are properly restrained at all times; pass safely; keep a safe distance from other vehicles; obey all other traffic laws; and demonstrate patience and courtesy while driving.

Motor Carrier Compliance officers in Georgia will also be watching for unsafe commercial motor vehicles traveling the state’s roads and also emphasizing the “Leave More Space” message of the Georgia Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks (G-TACT) Program. G-TACT reminds drivers to leave more space before merging in front of a tractor trailer and to prevent collisions by not tailgating the big trucks.

The five-state safety effort coincides with the start of the summer travel season.