Most of our readers would probably think that with the advances in automotive safety technology that the number of injuries and deaths that occur on the highways and roads throughout the country would most likely be on the decline. Unfortunately, in Georgia at least, that is not the case.
According to a recent report, statistics kept by the Georgia Department of Transportation show that this year is off to a particularly deadly start for motorists. The report indicates that in the first three months of the year, a total of 424 fatalities have occurred on Georgia’s roadways. That number represents a 25 percent increase from 2014. As noted in the report, that puts the potential overall number of fatalities in Georgia this year on a pace to hit approximately 1,200.
If the current pattern of fatalities on the Georgia roadways continues, 2015 will be the first year in nearly a decade in which there has been an increase in the number of fatalities that occur from car accidents. But, as shocking as these statistics might be for our readers, the causes of these deadly car accidents probably will not be a surprise.
The report noted that a whopping 79 percent of these fatalities are most likely attributed to the behavior of drivers. These behaviors could include distracted driving, speeding and the failure to wear a seatbelt. Apparently some of the most distracting behaviors a driver can engage in are grooming, drinking or eating and interacting with passengers – particularly children.
When a person in Georgia suffers serious injuries at the hand of a negligent driver, the victim should hold that driver accountable through legal action.
Source: WJBF.com, “Georgia DOT Stats Show Increase in Traffic Deaths,” Deon Guillory, May 17, 2015