Speeding is a choice: Why Texans are urged to slow down before it’s too late

DALLAS — In Texas, speeding is not only dangerous, it’s also the number one contributing factor in traffic crashes statewide. In 2024, more than 158,000 speed-related crashes occurred in Texas, with 1,467 lives lost. 

In Dallas and Fort Worth combined, more than 33,000 speed-related crashes resulted in 370 deaths and more than 1,400 serious injuries in a single year.

Operation Slowdown: A Statewide Push to Save Lives

Recognizing the critical need to address this crisis, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across the state for “Operation Slowdown,” a targeted, high-visibility speed enforcement period running from July 18 to August 3. 

During these two weeks, officers will patrol Texas highways and city streets in greater numbers, watching for speeders and issuing citations to send one simple message: slow down, or pay the price.

Driving faster than the posted limit increases the distance it takes to stop and decreases your reaction time, both of which are critical in avoiding collisions. Higher speeds mean greater force in a collision, increasing the likelihood of severe injuries or death.

There is also the financial toll: expensive fines, court costs, and higher insurance premiums await those caught speeding. Fines double in school zones and work zones when workers are present, places where driving safely matters most.

Part of TxDOT’s ongoing “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign, Operation Slowdown is also about educating drivers on speed appropriateness, not just speed limits. Safe driving means more than obeying posted numbers; it means adapting to real-world conditions.

• Slowing down in heavy traffic
• Reducing speed during rain or slick roads
• Being extra cautious around construction zones
• Paying attention to reduced speed signs

At the heart of this initiative is a larger cultural movement: “Drive Like a Texan.” 

It’s a call to action rooted in pride and community. To drive like a Texan means to show courtesy, to be kind, and to prioritize safety, just like we would if our loved ones were sharing the road with us.