Study Finds Georgia Ranks 14th for Worst Drivers in the United States
All of us who have experienced rush hour traffic in Atlanta know that we have our fair share of lousy drivers, but a new study quantifies what many of us know from experience. The good news is that there are more than a dozen states with worse drivers than Georgia. The bad news is that Georgia is ranked as the 14th worst state for bad drivers according to a new study.
The study conducted by CarInsuranceComparison.com listed Georgia in the lowest third of states in terms of the quality of drivers based on statistics related to red light running, drunk driving, traffic tickets, careless driving, fatality rates per mile driven and seat belt violations. The data was gathered from the National Motorists Association, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Interestingly, all of the worst states in the study were in the South. The worst eight states were Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri. Tennessee was ranked 13th and Arkansas 17th. Based on the study, the popularity of NASCAR in our region of the country has not rubbed off on non-professional drivers commuting to school, work and other everyday destinations.
The poll had two other troubling results that might explain Georgia’s ranking to some degree. Georgia ranked second in traffic tickets and fifth in drunk driving. Drivers with alcohol in their system are seven times more likely to cause a fatal accident. A driver whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over the legal limit of .08 percent is 13 times more likely to cause a deadly collision.
Georgia’s number two ranking for traffic violations also provides potential insight into why there are so many car accidents in Atlanta and the surrounding areas of Georgia. When drivers run stop signs, disregard red lights, text message, exceed the speed limit or violate other traffic safety rules, these unsafe driving practices often lead to crashes. Given that alcohol impaired driving and traffic violations are so common in Georgia, it is predictable that our state would have more than our fair share of accidents and traffic-related fatalities.
If you are involved in an auto accident with a driver who violates a traffic safety law or drives drunk, these forms of unsafe driving can constitute a basis for imposing liability. Generally, traffic violations will constitute negligence whereas driving under the influence might justify punitive damages as well as compensatory damages. Our experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys conduct an appropriate investigation based on the facts of a particular case that may include inspecting the crash scene, reviewing vehicle damage, analyzing law enforcement reports, reviewing photos and medical reports and gathering other relevant evidence.
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If you or a loved one is injured in a traffic accident, our auto accident lawyers can review your case. Our Atlanta car accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Sources:
http://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/which-states-have-the-worst-drivers/
http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2014/04/07/study-georgia-drivers-not-the-worst/