Law enforcement agencies are launching a zero-tolerance traffic initiative on Interstate 95 starting Tuesday morning to combat a surge in fatal crashes that have recently claimed several lives on the Space Coast.
The campaign, titled “This is the only warning you’re getting,” pairs the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Officials say the 72-mile stretch of highway in Brevard is currently ranked among the deadliest sections of I-95 in the country.
“From here on out, this new initiative has one goal: to save lives,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said. “We will be writing citations for any and all violations observed. No more warnings, no more excuses.”
The crackdown follows a deadly holiday season. Recent local tragedies include a Dec. 22 crash near mile marker 228 where a 34-year-old maintenance worker was killed after a semi-truck struck his parked vehicle. On Dec. 26, a 34-year-old woman died after falling from a motorcycle near the Volusia-Brevard line, and a high-speed chase on Christmas morning reportedly reached 140 mph before ending in a crash that injured a trooper.
Authorities identified excessive speed, impaired driving, and distracted driving as the primary causes of these incidents.
Under the new initiative, motor units will patrol the interstate indefinitely. Officers will issue citations for speeding, improper lane changes, seat belt violations, and “move over” law infractions.
Colonel Gary Howes, head of the Florida Highway Patrol, said troopers see the aftermath of aggressive driving firsthand. He noted that the Florida Department of Transportation has already provided “courtesy warnings” in the form of posted speed limit signs.
“If you fall into any of these driving behaviors, you may find yourself on the shoulder of I-95 having your bad driving behavior documented on a uniform traffic citation,” Howes said.
Howes also urged drivers to provide space for emergency vehicles. Florida law requires motorists to move over a lane for stopped law enforcement or, if unable to move over, slow to 20 mph below the posted limit.
Ivey emphasized that the campaign applies to both local residents and out-of-state travelers. He noted that criminal violations will result in immediate arrests.
“We are going to make sure that 95 flips from becoming the most deadly stretch to becoming the safest stretch of interstate in the country,” Ivey said.
Author: titusvillemedia
Raised on the Space Coast, I want to keep North Brevard informed of what's happening. Send Tips / Story Ideas to TitusvilleMedia@gmail.com
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