GHSA Summer Safety Tips for Parents with Teen Drivers

By Grant Law Office on June 29, 2011

Summertime brings many more teen drivers on Georgia roads, and with more teen drivers comes a higher risk of traffic accidents. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the deadliest time of year for teen drivers ages 15 to 20-years-old is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The GHSA encourages parents to take charge in keeping their teen drivers safe this summer and have provided some useful tips to promote teen driving safety:

1. Remind your teen of the importance of properly fastening their seat belt. According to statistics, teenagers are the least likely to wear their seat belt, even though doing so has been proven effective in preventing car crash fatalities in Georgia.
2. Even if your teen knows the law, make sure they understand that they should never drink and drive, or get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking.Read more…

Georgia “Death Trap” Intersection Finally Has Traffic Signal

By Grant Law Office on May 20, 2011

The traffic signal project for the intersection of Georgia Highway 212 and Oak Hill Road has finally been completed as of this month. However, according to CovNewsj, the traffic light is not expected to be fully operational until the morning of May 24. Work on the project began in February of this year.

In October of 2010, the Newton County Board of commissioners approved a $106,548 bid from Moye Electric of Dublin to take on the project. The installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of GA Highway 212 and Oak Hill Road is expected to decrease the alarming number of fatal Georgia auto accidents at that intersection. It is a high traffic thoroughfare and the amount of traffic has only increased since the addition of a public library and a park in the area. There have been several fatal accidents at the site, prompting the former District 2 Commissioner to call it a “death trap.”Read more…

Johns Creek Roundabout Planned to Relieve Traffic Congestion

By Grant Law Office on May 10, 2011

The city of Johns Creek and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) have planned construction of a modern roundabout at the intersection of Bell Road and Boles Road to begin in spring 2013. According to the Johns Creek Patch, traffic congestion has worsened in recent years, increasing motorist frustration over long wait times as well as increasing Georgia traffic accidents. An informational meeting about the project was met with support from many of its attendees.

The roundabout will be the first for the city but not for Georgia. GDOT has been encouraging the implementation of roundabouts in appropriate intersections as they have been shown to relieve congestion, improve safety, increase traffic capacity, decrease auto accidents, and improve aesthetics.Read more…

Proposed Stricter Laws for Cell Phone Use while Driving in Georgia

By Grant Law Office on April 28, 2011

Currently, Georgia law bans all cell phone use while driving, including texting, for school bus drivers and teenagers that are less than 18 years of age. Drivers that are over 18 are banned from texting while driving, but are not banned from using a handheld cell phone or other device to talk while driving. The increase in Georgia traffic accident injuries and fatalities involving distracted driving has prompted the proposal of new legislation.

If the proposed legislation becomes Georgia law, all handheld cell phones will be banned, allowing only hands-free use of cell phones for motorists 18 years or older. School bus drivers and teenagers, or novice drivers, less than 18 years old will still abide by the all cell phone use ban initiated in 2010.Read more…

Georgia State Patrol Affirms that Sobriety Checkpoints Work

By Grant Law Office on April 13, 2011

In the aftermath of the U.S. Senate prohibition on cell phone applications that alert drivers of sobriety checkpoints, many state agencies are reflecting on the effectiveness of said checkpoints, according to Times-Georgian.com. Georgia law enforcement officers in Carroll County maintain that the checkpoints do work despite concerns of cost-effectiveness and cell phone app deterrents.

Georgia State Patrol officials say that the main goal of establishing a sobriety checkpoint is to catch people violating the DUI and open container laws, but also to send a message to other people who may drink and drive. Regardless of the number of drunk drivers caught at a checkpoint, even if is only two, dangerous drivers are removed from the road, possibly saving lives.Read more…

Georgia Work Zone Crashes Have Killed 57 Workers

By Grant Law Office on April 6, 2011

Georgia is joining the nation this week in focusing on Work Zone Safety, according to a news article in MySouthwestGA.com. Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials say that approximately 700 people died in U.S. construction work zone car accidents in 2009. GDOT wants to raise public awareness of and emphasize what drivers need to do to keep themselves and everyone safe in highway construction and other work zone areas.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), there were 32 deaths in 2009 caused by work zone traffic accidents in Georgia. Speeding and distracted driving, especially related to cell phone use, are very common in Georgia work zones and increase the risk of a pedestrian injury accident. Some drivers speed through work zones without reducing their speed to the posted limit, or slowing down at all, and others are talking on their cell phones or texting, not aware of the potential hazards around them.Read more…