Every year, approximately 1.19 million people die around the world due to road traffic crashes. In Georgia, 1,797 people lost their lives in 2021 as a result of traffic accidents.
Traffic-related fatalities in Georgia nowadays often seem unavoidable, inevitable, and common. No day passes without reports of collisions on our interstate roads and major highways. But does it really have to be this way? Do we have to wake up to news reports of accidents and wrongful deaths on Georgia interstate highways, including I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285, I-575, and I-675? No!
Road users, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, have a duty to act in a way that doesn’t endanger the lives of others. Additionally, there are concrete solutions that the state of Georgia, the city of Atlanta, and communities can enforce to minimize traffic crashes, reduce harm, and save lives. Let’s discern the tips drivers can implement to prevent Atlanta traffic accidents.
Prioritizing Safety: Essential Tips for Atlanta Drivers
Navigating Atlanta’s bustling streets can be both challenging and exhilarating. With its diverse population and vibrant culture, the city offers a unique driving experience for residents and visitors. However, heavy traffic, complex roadways, and unpredictable weather pose significant risks to all road users.
Some of the tips Atlanta drivers can apply to protect themselves and other road users include:
- Obey the speed limit. In 2021, speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. Adhering to Atlanta’s posted speed limits guarantees you have enough time to react and reduces the severity of Atlanta traffic accidents.
- Don’t text and drive. Georgia’s 2018 hands-free law prohibits drivers from texting while driving. If you must text or reply to an email, pull over to a safe location first.
- Don’t tailgate. Tailgating is dangerous and can lead to catastrophic rear-end accidents. Leave ample space between you and the car in front of you to allow you to react if the driver applies instant brakes.
- Don’t drink and drive. Drunk driving is illegal and dangerous. If you are going to drink, have a designated driver or use Lyft or Uber instead.
- Don’t drive drowsy. Falling asleep behind the wheel kills. To prevent drowsy driving, get enough sleep, avoid drinking alcohol before driving, and use public transportation if you are taking medication that causes drowsiness.
- Be alert and vigilant. When driving in Atlanta, keep your eyes on the road. Distracted driving is avoidable, and it can lead to deadly Atlanta traffic accidents.
- Use your turn signals. Let other drivers know when you are about to turn to prevent Atlanta traffic accidents.
- Plan your route wisely. Before hitting the road, identify the safest and most efficient routes to your destination. Avoid rush hours and congested areas to minimize your exposure to potential hazards.
- Be weather prepared. Atlanta’s weather is sometimes unpredictable, with sudden thunderstorms, rains, and occasional snowfall. Equip yourself with an emergency roadside kit, a charged cell phone, an umbrella, and a flashlight. Check your battery, antifreeze, headlights, tires, windshield wipers, and washer fluid.
- Buckle up. In 2019, 39% of passenger vehicle occupants fatally injured were unrestrained. Buckling up when driving isn’t only required by law, but doing so also saves lives and prevents severe injuries.
- Protect yourself with auto insurance. In Georgia, motorists must maintain minimum bodily injury liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Liability insurance helps you pay for injuries and damages in accidents you cause.
- Drive defensively. Don’t assume other drivers on Georgia roads will obey all of the above tips. Be prepared for anything while driving.
Navigating Atlanta’s Busiest Highways: Strategies To Reduce Accident Risks
State and Atlanta government agencies can implement various strategies to curb preventable yet tragic auto accidents, including:
Building More Compact and Connected Communities
To reduce accident risks on Atlanta’s busiest highways, land use planning is crucial. The Safe System approach aims to reduce severe and fatal injuries for road users by providing a holistic and comprehensive view of Atlanta’s road system. It anticipates human mistakes to make places safer for people. The approach encourages mass transit, creating denser neighborhoods to minimize reliance on private cars and separating high-speed highways so they don’t pass through connecting streets and mixed-use areas.
A heavy reliance on personal vehicles rather than mass transit, such as trains or public buses, means Atlanta experiences more traffic accidents every year.
Designing Smarter Streets
Better Atlanta street designs can reduce speeds to appropriate levels and create fewer opportunities for driver error. Some of the actions the city of Atlanta can implement include:
- Protecting bicycle lanes
- Providing separate spaces for pedestrians and motorcyclists
- Using traffic calming methods such as roundabouts, median refuge islands, curb extensions, and speed humps
- Separating highways in cities from pedestrians
- Conducting traffic safety audits
Safer street designs can significantly reduce the number of Atlanta traffic accidents and fatalities. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), roundabouts can reduce severe injuries and fatalities by 78 to 82%. Roundabouts are safer and more efficient than traditional intersections, which are common sites for Atlanta traffic accidents.
Providing Multiple Transit Options
Public transit in Atlanta is safer than traveling by private vehicles and can reduce congestion on our roadways. It is a lucrative option for students, the elderly, disabled individuals, and visitors from out of state. Public transportation is ten times safer per mile compared to traveling by car. Generally, accident rates tend to decline as public transportation increases in a community.
Regulating Vehicle Speeds
Speeding is a common issue on Atlanta highways. Whether in the suburbs or downtown, passenger vehicles and commercial trucks can cruise at speeds of 50mph or more, endangering all road users’ lives. Vehicle speeds should match the purpose of the Atlanta area they are passing through. Reducing vehicle speeds and doing away with high-speed roads in densely populated areas can reduce Atlanta traffic accidents.
Other strategies the city of Atlanta can implement to reduce accident risks are enforcing more traffic laws and regulations and improving public education and awareness regarding transportation.
Vehicle Maintenance: Key To Preventing Accidents on Georgia Roads
Regular vehicle maintenance is critical for safe driving on Georgia roadways. Here are some tips for vehicle maintenance that drivers in Georgia should implement at all times:
- Have regular brake checkups
- Check tire pressure regularly
- Keep blinkers and lights functional
- Always clean and adjust mirrors
- Schedule regular oil changes
- Consider a portable air compressor
- Replace windshield wipers if necessary
- Keep your car clean
- Have your vehicle inspected, including seatbelts, the radiator, and battery
- Consider comprehensive insurance coverage
Avoiding Hazardous Driving Behaviors on Atlanta Roads
Most Americans spend at least an hour driving to work, school, and between activities. Driving usually feels easy for most people, as do routines like brushing teeth. Unfortunately, this notion is misguided since driving is one of the most dangerous things Georgians can do.
When Atlanta drivers are negligent, they can cause car collisions and claim lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 42,795 people died in traffic crashes in 2022. Some of the hazardous driving behaviors that contributed to these figures include:
- Driving too fast
- Failure to stay in the proper lane
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Oversteering or overcorrecting
- Making improper turns
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Driving the wrong way in one-way traffic
- Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
- Swerving
Get in Touch for Legal Advice and Representation
Atlanta’s busiest highways are prone to catastrophic car accidents. By understanding these highways’ risks, we can protect ourselves and reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on our roads. If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, contact Fry | Goehring’s personal injury lawyers today to discuss your legal options. Get started now by calling 404-969-1284 to schedule your free case review.
