More Than Half of Car Crashes in Georgia Are Caused By Distracted Drivers

The increasing seriousness of distracted driving in the U.S. has become more and more clear in recent years, as the number of accidents caused by this kind of negligent driving continue to rise. One recent study, however, has revealed just how significant the problem has become in Georgia, where distracted driving is now thought to be responsible for as many as 53 percent of all car accidents in the state.

All Distractions Are Dangerous While Driving 

Unfortunately, the report published by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety doesn’t reveal which types of distractions are most common. Instead, it covers all three major types of distracted driving behaviors: manual, visual, and cognitive. What is known, however, is that the more categories under which a certain activity falls, the more perilous it is for the driver to engage in it. Texting and driving, for instance, is one of the most dangerous activities because it involves all three types of distraction, taking a driver’s eye off the road, hands off the wheel, and attention off of the act of driving.

Distracted Driving Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries 

The recent report also revealed that distracted driving-related crashes tend to have more serious repercussions than collisions with other causes. For instance, 30 percent of all crashes resulting in a serious injury involved some sort of distraction. This trend is largely attributable to the fact that distracted drivers rarely try to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision, as they are too focused on their distraction to notice (until it is too late) of the impending danger. Pedestrians and cyclists also seem to bear the brunt of the damage caused by distracted drivers, with at least 13 percent of distracted driving victims involving these two groups.

Certain Age Groups Are More Prone to Distracted Driving 

Any driver can be guilty of driving while distracted, regardless of age or sex. The Georgia study, however, did indicate that certain age groups are more at risk of engaging in distracting activities while driving. Specifically, drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 years old were responsible for more than one-quarter of all distracted driving-related crashes in Georgia in 2022. This age group also received more citations for distracted driving after an accident than any other age group.

Contact Shiver Hamilton Campbell for Legal Help Today 

The new distracted driving statistics published in the most recent Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety report are alarming to anyone who spends time on the road in our state. While we can take steps to ensure that we aren’t the cause of a distracted driving-related accident, there is no way to guarantee that other road users will be as careful. If you end up injured in a crash because of another driver’s distraction, you do have legal recourse. Call the experienced Marietta distracted driving accident attorneys at Shiver Hamilton Campbell today to learn more about seeking compensation from the at-fault party who caused your own crash.

Sources: 

local3news.com/local-news/new-report-says-distracted-driving-responsible-for-half-of-2022-crash-in-georgia/article_a4f41e56-5ff6-11ef-a718-d7501677fa49.html

gahighwaysafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2022-Distracted-Driving-Georgia-Traffic-Safety-Facts.pdf