Traffic Accidents in Georgia Are on the Rise

GEORGIA- Times-herlad.com writes that collisions are increasing in Georgia. The state police reported that the number of such incidents rose by about two times this June as compared to the previous month. In May, police investigated 21 collisions. This June, the state patrol responded to 46 collisions in which twelve people suffered injuries, and two people were killed. Drivers were cited 368 times for traffic violations.*

Police cautioned drivers to pay attention while on the road. According to officers, 22 percent of all collisions are the result of a distraction that took place about three seconds within the time of the crash. Additionally, sixteen percent of deadly crashes are the result of distracted drivers. 

A hands-free law was enacted in Georgia in an effort to reduce the number of crashes that occur in the state. In 2017, and in 2018, the number of traffic-related deaths declined, although pedestrian collisions continued to increase. 

Many officials believe that the drop in deaths was at least in part the result of the reduction in distracted driving thanks to the hands-free legislation. 

When it comes to deadly pedestrian crashes, officials believe that phones are also a leading cause of these incidents. It is not only drivers who are believed to be making the roads more dangerous by using their phones; police believe that pedestrians are also distracted, leading to more dangers for everyone. 

In 2019, total traffic deaths increased very slightly. The Georgia Department of Transportation reports that more than three out of four of these deadly accidents are caused by hazardous driving behaviors, including distractions, drunk driving, and speeding. Many of the victims also failed to use their seatbelts. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://times-herald.com/news/2020/07/gsp-local-traffic-accidents-on-the-rise

https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/research/

http://www.dot.ga.gov/DS/SafetyOperation/DAAA