In Georgia, it is illegal for a driver of a vehicle to engage in any actions that distract him or her from driving safely. Studies by the National Transportation Safety Board – an independent federal agency authorized by congress to promote transportation safety – show that a fifth of all auto accidents in our nation involve one or more distracted drivers.
Distractions are grouped into three main areas:
- Taking your eyes off the road
- Taking your mind off your driving
- Taking your hands off the wheel
Changing radio stations, conversations with passengers, eating or picking an item up off the floor are all distractions for drivers. As the use of cellphones rise, distractions also rise, creating dangerous situations for people on and off the roads. Distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves and other drivers, they are a danger to pedestrians.
As Americans try to live healthier lives through walking, running or biking, they also need to pay attention when sharing roads with vehicles. Pedestrians are advised to develop a sense of what drivers are doing and always make eye contact before proceeding through intersections.
In an effort to keep Georgia drivers safe, the state enforces the following laws:
- Drivers shall not use any form of text-based communication while driving.
- Drivers under the age of 18, or those with learner’s permits, shall not talk on cellphones, with or without a hands-free device.
- School bus operators shall not use cellphones while driving when passengers are present.
- Young drivers with instructional permits cannot apply for regular licenses if guilty of two texting violations in one year.
Studies liken using a cellphone while driving to driving with a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration, whether or not a hands-free unit is used. Because of this study and others, the NTSB recommends that each state ban all use of cellphones while driving, even with hands-free devices. This lofty goal may cut down on car accidents but, so far, no states have adopted a total ban.
Despite state laws and federal recommendations, hundreds of traffic accidents and fatalities are still caused by distracted driving each year. If you have been involved in an accident and you suspect a distracted driver may be at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Seek the counsel of a lawyer knowledgeable about automobile accident law.