FHP: Dangerously high speed violations on the rise

Florida High Patrol
Florida High Patrol
Hernando Sorzano via Shutterstock

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is flashing its lights after Florida drivers racked up an all-time high of 238 violations in May for extremely dangerous speeds—meaning the vehicles were 50 mph or more over the speed limit.

A news release called the record number of violations an “alarming trend.” Since 2012, the number of violations issued for these extremely dangerous speeds has increased year over year. The number grew 30 percent from 2019 to 2020, the largest one-year jump.

So far in 2021, state-wide law enforcement officers have issued 1,054 violations for speeds that exceed the limit by at least 50 mph. Only 6 of those violations were in Alachua County.

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“The trend we are seeing in the number of these dangerous speeding violations is very alarming,” Terry Rhodes, FLHSMV executive director, said in a press release. “It underscores the need for all motorists in Florida to take their driving privilege seriously and to remember that the posted speed limit is not merely a suggestion—it is mandatory to keep everyone safe.”

He also said that July tends to produce more high speed violations.

“The Florida Highway Patrol will be highly visible during the Fourth of July holiday and throughout the month to enforce aggressive driving, speeding, and impaired driving violations,” Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, said in the same press release.

The FLHSMV has published online guidelines and reminders for drivers to ensure safe summer travel.

FHP speeding violations

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