Georgia Police Dress Up as Construction Workers to Bust Distracted Drivers

In Cobb County, police officers are taking an innovative approach to catching distracted drivers. The Marietta Police Department has decided to go undercover to to find drivers who are texting, checking emails, tweeting or engaging in any other distracting behavior while driving, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Recently, police officers dressed up as construction crew members at a busy intersection on Cobb Parkway. Interestingly, the drivers paid little attention to the "construction crew" and police officers were given a close look into the behavior of passing drivers.

Police consistently report that catching distracted drivers is difficult because it is hard to determine exactly what a driver is doing within the vehicle. By posing as construction workers, officers can see clearly within the vehicle and build a stronger case against the driver. Even drivers sitting at a red light can face charges for texting while driving. Many such drivers were upset and surprised at being pulled over, so police spent time explaining the law. 

In Georgia, distracted driving comes with a $150 ticket and one point on your license. Georgia police report that distracted driving is a significant problem that they feel has become a larger issue than even drinking while driving. The problem needs to stop, and innovative techniques like those used by the Marietta Police Department are forming part of the solution.

Stow Your Phone to Prevent Accidents and Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 3,000 people are killed due to distracted driving each year. It is estimated that drivers who text are an astonishing 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. In fact, merely making a phone call while driving, which is legal in many states, increases crash rates by three times.

Distracted driving has been likened to addiction by some researchers. People continue to text while driving even knowing the risks and potential consequences, both resulting in accidents and traffic tickets. Drivers seem compelled to pull out their phones even if they face fines, points on their license or being involved in an accident. The risks, coupled with the lack of deterrence, makes distracted driving a difficult problem to combat. Part of the issue may well be the absence of enforcement of texting while driving laws, and police claim violations are not easy to substantiate due to the difficulty of proving a driver was texting at the time. Police departments will need to continue to evolve in their methods of enforcement until drivers take texting while driving laws seriously and stow their phones.

Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Put Our Over 39 Years of Experience to Work on Your Case!

Distracted driving kills thousands annually and injures many more. If a distracted driver caused your injuries, the Atlanta Automobile Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can help you obtain the justice you deserve. Our firm offers over 39 years of experience in distracted driving accident cases and represents personal injury and accident victims throughout the State of Georgia and in the Southeast. Prompt action is vital to the success of your car accident case. As such, do not delay in seeking legal assistance, as your time to file a claim after the loss of your loved one is limited.

Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law 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.

Source:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/police-dress-construction-workers-catch-distracted/nm8jk/