As Labor Day approaches, Georgia teams up with Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee for the annual Hands Across the Border initiative, a cooperative traffic enforcement campaign aimed at enhancing road safety during the busy holiday weekend.
Coordinated Road Checks Across State Lines
This yearly campaign sees state and local law enforcement agencies from the five participating states working in unison to identify and remove impaired drivers from the roads. Officers will conduct simultaneous road checks across state borders, focusing on catching drunk and drugged drivers, while also issuing citations for speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations, including improper car seat usage.
“We are fortunate to have neighbors who are as committed as we are in Georgia to saving lives on our roads and that they are always ready to work with us during the year on other projects that promote safe driving,” remarked Allen Poole, Director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Hands Across the Border sends a message to every driver in the southeast to slow down, buckle up, and drive sober and alert before the Labor Day holiday travel period.”
A Longstanding Tradition of Safety
The Hands Across the Border campaign began in 1991 as a friendly challenge between the Georgia State Patrol and the Florida Highway Patrol to see which state could reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths over Labor Day weekend. The initiative quickly expanded, with all states bordering Georgia now participating in joint road checks along their state lines. The primary aim of this effort is to intercept impaired drivers before the final holiday weekend of the summer, contributing to safer roads for all.
“Our ultimate goal at any time of year is to get dangerous drivers off the roads and help reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities,” said Roger Hayes, Law Enforcement Services Director at GOHS. “But with a major travel weekend coming up and so many warm weather vacation destinations across the southeast, we want everyone to make sure they drive sober, put down their phones, slow down and that everyone in their vehicle is properly buckled up.”
Addressing the Southeast’s Traffic Fatality Rates
Campaigns like Hands Across the Border are crucial, especially given the concerning traffic fatality rates across the southeastern United States. In Georgia alone, there were 1,504 traffic-related deaths in 2018, a slight decrease from the 1,540 recorded in 2017. However, alcohol-related fatalities rose from 356 in 2017 to 375 in 2018, and speed-related deaths also saw an increase from 248 to 267 over the same period.
Hayes further emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort, stating, “We partner with our state line neighbors in communities along the South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee borders for road checks, enforcement, and awareness. This isn’t about raising revenue, but rather lowering fatalities.”
Ensuring a Safer Labor Day Weekend
With millions expected to travel for Labor Day, the Hands Across the Border campaign plays a vital role in keeping drivers safe. By working together, these five states aim to make the roads safer and remind everyone of the importance of driving responsibly.
Source: The Trucker
