'Operation Slowdown' to target speeders in Socorro as part of TxDOT traffic safety effort

Socorro police will be targeting speeders as part of a new Texas traffic safety effort named "Operation Slowdown" starting this weekend.

The increased traffic enforcement will run from Friday, July 19, through Aug. 4 as part of the Texas Department of Transportation's "Be Safe. Drive Smart" campaign.

Traffic:El Paso's Sun Metro receives $30M through USDOT grant for low emission buses

"Speeding is one of the deadliest problems on our roads," TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a statement. "Getting to the office, home or wherever you're going a few minutes faster isn't worth putting your life or the lives of others at risk."

The Socorro Police Department said it will have an increased police presence to crack down on speeding and aggressive driving during "Operation Slowdown," which is funded by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. Socorro is a small town off the southeastern edge of El Paso.

The El Paso Police Department will not be taking part in "Operation Slowdown," but maintains increased traffic patrols under the yearlong Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) state grant, spokespersons for TxDOT and the police department said.

Though not part of the operation, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor and enforce speeding violations on a regular basis, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Violent crime:How Instagram helped solve a drive-by shooting at a Socorro park

Last year in Texas, there were 1,456 people killed in speed-related crashes, a third of all traffic deaths in the state, the department of transportation reported.

TxDOT reminds drivers to monitor their speed to the road conditions, such as driving through work zones and bad weather. Drivers should slow down to allow more space to stop when roads are wet or traffic is heavy and should watch for traffic signs about reduced speed limits ahead.