Drivers will want to put on their seat belts and put down their phones next week as Alabama law enforcement agencies crack down on speeding, seat belt usage and impaired and distracted driving. The July 17-23 movement is part of Southern Shield, a campaign by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and law enforcement agencies in five states, all with the common goal of achieving a period of zero fatalities … The Center for Advanced Public Safety at The University of Alabama reported 789 fatal crashes in 2015, a 6.77 percent increase from 2014. There were more than 1,000 fatalities in 2016. “What’s so bad is this year we’re ahead of last year. Today, troopers have worked crashes where 335 people have been killed compared to 332 this time last year. I didn’t think we could beat last year’s numbers. You were used to seeing a handful, but not that much,” he said.