Auto accidents in Georgia cause heartbreak and misery to families. The roads of the state are becoming increasingly dangerous with as many as four people losing their lives every day, according to recent statistics.
A grim picture was painted in a report on the TV station 13WMAZ earlier this year. Last year, 1549 people were killed on the highways of the state, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The figure is slightly lower than in 2016 when 1561 people were killed on the state’s roads. However, that was the first year since 2008 when the 1500 fatality figure was breached.
The rise in fatalities comes at a time when cars are fitted with additional safety devices and smart technology intended to afford better protection for their occupants.
The rise in fatalities comes despite an initiative intended to cut traffic deaths in Georgia.
Four people die every day in auto accidents in Georgia
The Department of Transportation points out the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has a national goal of reducing fatalities by 1,000 every year.
To assist in reaching that national goal, Georgia has a target of cutting highway deaths by 41 or more each year. It’s a target based on the types of highway in the state as well as the volume of cars and trucks using the state’s roads. This measure evaluates GDOT’s efforts to cut deaths on Georgia’s roads.
Distracted driving appears to have fueled the uptick of road deaths in Georgia. 13WMAZ spoke to Kyle Collins with the Department of Transportation who warned Georgia’s tally of road deaths is above the national average. He said:
“We hate seeing one life lost, much less over 1,500 every year, which is where we currently stand.”
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, 60 percent of fatal wrecks in the state involve a single car accident. People were not wearing seatbelts in more than half of the fatal wrecks.
Distracted driving was also considered to be a major factor behind the spike in deaths.
Drivers taking their eyes off the road to look at cellphones or to text has become increasingly common in Georgia and elsewhere. In 2015, distracted driving was linked to 3,477 traffic deaths nationally according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Distracted driving appears to be a more serious problem in the southern states. Mississippi and Florida record the highest number of distracted driving crashes in the country.
If you sustained an injury in the Atlanta area or lost a loved one you should consider calling a personal injury lawyer. Call us today at (404) 913-1529.