For years now, American researchers, police departments and political leaders have warned the public of the dangers of distracted driving. Virtually every state, including Georgia, has passed some type of law restricting or outright prohibiting driving while distracted by a cellphone or other device.
Most responsible drivers in Gwinnett County have taken this lesson to heart. They know that distracted driving reduces awareness of your surroundings, reaction time, judgment and more. So they keep their phones on the console or the seat next to them until they reach their destination.
But there are still far too many people in Georgia who choose distraction over the health and safety of themselves and others on the road. In fact, state officials say the problem is getting more dangerous.
Distracted driving deaths are on the rise
The Georgia Department of Transportation recently announced that deaths from car accidents have gone up 13 percent, despite reduced traffic during the pandemic. GDOT blames a combination of distracted drivers, drunk drivers and speeders. With more people going back to work and schools reopening for in-person learning this fall, the department believes the number of fatalities could go even higher.
A distracted driver can change your life in an instant
No doubt, you see distracted drivers all the time. But you might not know that one of them is going to crash into your vehicle until it is too late. If that happens, you or others in your vehicle could be badly hurt. You might need life-saving emergency medical treatment or extensive surgery and physical rehabilitation to recover. The pain and disability could greatly reduce your quality of life.
