(ATLANTA) - 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. “Additionally, patrols are targeting driving behaviors that cause crashes and contribute to crash severity,” he said. “These include failing to yield the right of way and following too closely.” 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. Colonel J. Christopher Murphy, Alabama Public Safety Director, said the program will concentrate on driving safety. “We believe motorists will benefit from the consistent emphasis on safety that they’ll encounter as they travel from one jurisdiction to another,” he said. “Motorists endanger themselves and others when they choose to disobey traffic laws.”

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.