Georgia Ranks 6th for Most Distracted Driving Accidents in U.S.

Distractions tend to creep into most aspects of our daily lives. While this can be a drain on time and energy in most scenarios, such distractions can actually prove very dangerous when they occur while someone is behind the wheel. Despite efforts by lawmakers and safety experts in recent years, distracted driving continues to be a serious problem in the U.S. Unfortunately, in a recent survey, Georgia was found to rank sixth on the list of the states with the most distracted drivers in 2023.

How Prevalent is Distracted Driving?

 According to a recent study conducted by the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), there was a ten percent increase in distracted driving behaviors in 2023. These numbers are supported by a 13 percent increase (since 2019) in fatalities due to distracted driving across the U.S., where in 2021 alone, 3,522 people lost their lives in distracted driving accidents. Unfortunately, Georgia is not immune to these problems and actually ranks in the top ten for the states with the most distracted drivers. In fact, the distraction rate in Georgia for the first half of 2023 was 15.5 percent. This means that Georgia has the sixth most distracted drivers of any state in the U.S. Nearby South Carolina was ranked third, with a distraction rate of only one percent more. The national average for distracted driving remains at 12.1 percent.

Types of Distractions 

Any activity that diverts a driver’s attention away from the road (or the act of driving) technically qualifies as distracted driving. There are, however, three categories under which most distractions fall, including:

• Visual distractions, which occur when drivers take their eyes off the road;
• Manual distractions, which happen when drivers take their hands off the wheel; and
• Cognitive distractions, which occur when drivers take their minds off the act of driving.

Many of the most dangerous distracted driving activities actually fall under more than one category. Texting and driving, for instance, falls under all three, leading to:

• Reduced focus, meaning that drivers are less likely to notice hazards;
• Slower reaction times, meaning that drivers have less time to swerve out of the way of a crash or to at least hit the brakes;
• Impaired judgments, especially regarding following distance and speeds; and
• Reduced awareness of their surroundings, which can lead to traffic violations and a general lack of awareness of changing conditions.

All of these problems make it a lot more likely that a distracted driver will be the cause of a serious car accident.

Were You Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident? 

Unfortunately, not all drivers take the care they should to avoid distractions while driving. In these cases, injured parties can often recover compensation from the distracted driver who caused their crash. At the law offices of Shiver Hamilton Campbell, our experienced Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyers can help investigate the cause of your crash and assist you in seeking maximum compensation for your losses. Call us at 404-593-0020 to get started today.

Sources: 

augustachronicle.com/story/news/crime/2023/09/12/georgia-ranks-no-6-in-states-with-most-distracted-driving-incidents/70796390007/

gahighwaysafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2020-GTSF-Issue-Brief-Georgia-Traffic-Safety-During-the-COVID-19-Public-Health-Emergency-2.pdf