When you think about car accidents in Georgia, speeding or drunk driving probably come to mind first. But many serious crashes occur during ordinary moments. You could be heading to work, picking up your kids or running a quick errand. Simple habits like speeding up at a yellow light can result in major consequences.
While you often overlook these everyday behaviors, they play a big role in the increasing number of car mishaps across the state.
Distractions while driving are more common than you realize
Even though Georgia’s hands-free law bans texting while driving, distracted driving still leads to thousands of crashes each year. A total of 1615 road incidents occurred in Georgia during 2023, and this is a combination of rural and urban vehicular accidents. Many drivers don’t realize their actions put them and others at risk until it’s too late. Every day, distractions and habits impair your focus and reaction time. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Looking at your phone: A quick glance can delay your reaction to a traffic jam or road hazards.
- Eating or multitasking while driving: Taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road, even briefly, puts you in harm’s way
- Changing the radio or looking at the GPS: A moment of distraction can lead to disaster
- Tailgating or weaving through traffic: These aggressive habits leave less room for mistakes
Phones aren’t the only problem, fatigue can reduce your focus just as much.
Fatigue on the road: As harmful as drunk driving
Your reaction time drops if you’re exhausted or running on little sleep. You might drift out of your lane or miss a red light if you lightly doze off. Fatigue-related crashes occur quite frequently on rural roads and during extended drives.
You don’t have to be completely tired to be a threat on the road. If you start blinking more than usual or have trouble staying focused while driving, you’re already putting yourself at risk.
Fatigue is only one of several risks that can bring about serious problems on the road.
Bad roads and bad weather play a role too
Georgia drivers also face their fair share of road hazards such as heavy rain, sudden storms and poor drainage. These conditions can make driving unpredictable and increase the chances of accidents. Add in issues like potholes, missing signs and poorly marked lanes, and it becomes clear how easily accidents can happen, even when you’re driving with caution.
How to stay safe on the road
You can prevent most accidents by building safer habits behind the wheel:
- Stay focused: Don’t check your phone, eat or tinker with the radio
- Get enough rest: Being well rested helps you stay alert on long drives
- Avoid multitasking: Keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road
- Give yourself time and space: leave early and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, especially in traffic or bad weather
To stay safe, it’s important to establish better driving habits and understand what to do if you’re involved in an accident.
What if you were involved in a crash
If you think you have contributed to the accident, understand your rights and responsibilities before taking any action. A legal professional may be able to walk you through your options and help you decide what to do next.