teen drivers in Georgia

Published on: August 1, 2024

Georgia Teens to Benefit from New Auto Accident Prevention Program

All K -12 students in Georgia will now benefit from free access to traffic and road safety education thanks to a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Transportation and a leading education media organization.

Georgia has struggled with an increase in the number of car accident wrongful deaths across the state, with 1,800 people dying in auto accidents across the state in 2022. There were more than 2,000 auto accidents recorded in the state that year involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 24. Clearly, this is a high risk category of motorists and the Department of Transportation wants to ensure that drivers falling in this age category have access to all the resources that they need in order to drive safely and responsibly.

The new collaboration is called the Car and Road Safety Program, and is an initiative between the Georgia Department of Transportation and We Are Teachers which is a national educational advocacy program. We Are Teachers conducted surveys across Georgia schools, working together with teachers in order to develop high quality materials that are specifically targeted to Georgia students. The 5 year program will make available to students quality theoretical resources as well as the chance to take a virtual field trip anywhere in Georgia. There are also lots of interactive quizzes and plenty of activities to sharpen young motorists’ knowledge about traffic safety.

Published on: November 3, 2023

Report Finds Georgia one of the Best States for Teen Motorists

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

There are several areas in which Georgia can improve its auto accident prevention and safety record, but as a new report finds, the state scores very well as far as preventing teen driver car accidents is concerned.

Wallet Hub recently conducted a survey of all 50 states, and compared the driving environments in all based on safety, economic factors and driving laws. Georgia ranked very well on several of the parameters. Overall, the state ranked at number 10 in conducive driving environments for teen drivers. It was ranked at Number 16 for safety and Number 12 for the quality of its driving laws for teenage drivers. It was also placed at Number 35 for economic environment. The state was placed at Number 1 for the quality of its laws against texting and distracted driving, Number 6 on the quality of its roads, and at Number 7 on the quality of its occupant protection laws. Georgia’s Graduated Drivers License programs also received a nod, placing at number 11. Its DUI laws were ranked at number 14 for number of DUIs for every 100,000 drivers. It also placed at number 25 for the quality of its laws against driving under the influence of alcohol.

The data speaks for itself. Georgia’s Graduated Drivers License programs and the effectiveness of the state’s laws against distracted driving make for an ideal environment for teenage drivers in the state. The state also has invested in targeting greater participation by parents in their children’s driving journeys, and many education and awareness programs have been geared towards this aspect. Safety advocates say that parents should model exemplary driving behaviors in front of their teen children. For instance, there is little point barking at your child to wear his or her seatbelt when you do not bother buckling up every time you drive either. Lectures against using cell phones while driving mean nothing if you, as the parent, are unable to avoid checking a text message while you are at the wheel. Parents should not only display excellent driving habits, but also discuss driving lessons with their child. For instance, If you are using a turn signal while driving, explain to your teen why you are doing so. Taking a practical approach like this makes for creating a stronger, safer and more responsible teenage driver who is at a lower risk of car accidents.

Published on: October 24, 2022

Highway Safety Group Gives Georgia Good Ranking

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Auto safety group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has released its annual report on performance and highway safety measures. This year, Georgia has been ranked well, notching up a Green ranking, the highest on the list, a finding that is encouraging to the Atlanta car accident attorneys at our firm.

The 9th annual Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws compares all 50 states and grades them based on their adoption of 15 basic traffic safety laws. The 15 laws include everything from seatbelt and motorcycle safety to graduated driver’s licensing programs and distracted driving measures.

Georgia received a Green ranking, and the report found that the state performed well by implementing at least 11 of the laws the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety recommends. However, many feel Georgia could do better. One of the ways that the state could improve its highway safety record is by raising the minimum age for getting a learner’s permit, and enacting stricter nighttime and passenger restrictions on graduated driver’s licensing programs for teen drivers. Sadly, teenage drivers are some of the biggest victims of auto accidents every year. Stronger graduated driver’s licensing laws in Georgia may help save more teen lives in accidents every year.

Published on: February 18, 2022

Multi-Million Dollar GOHS Grant will Help Keep Young Drivers, Children Safer in Georgia

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia highway safety efforts will benefit from a multi-million dollar grant by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The grant will provide more than 2 million dollars in funding to the Georgia Department of Public Safety and Augusta University, and is meant to spent exclusively on highway safety.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the money will be used to enhance the agency’s data analysis processes, provide technical assistance to agencies across the state and enhance support for motor vehicle safety programs. The grant to Augusta University will be used specifically to encourage motor vehicle safety in young motorists. Augusta University will receive more than $16,000 in aid to the Georgia Young Adult Program.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety is taking the safety of child passengers very seriously, and plans to use much of the funding to develop programs that help keep child passengers safe in accidents. More than a million dollars, for instance, is going towards the expansion of child car safety seat use across the state. The money will go to the Injury Protection Program’s Child Occupant Safety Program, and the goal is to enhance the use of child car safety seats across the state by providing child safety seats. The program will also use the funds to increase education across the state about the need to keep children restrained in child car safety seats that are appropriate for their age and weight. The program will also invest the funding in the expansion of training programs not just for healthcare professionals and child care providers, but also emergency personnel and firefighters.

Published on: October 13, 2020

Georgia Marks National Teen Driver Safety Week

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is joining hands with federal agencies to help keep teen drivers safe as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week. This year, the week will be commemorated between October 18 and 24.

A number of events have been planned to mark the campaign which is specifically focused at reducing the risk of accidents involving teens. These include an event called Rock the Belt to encourage drivers to buckle up while driving. Teen drivers tend to have low rates of seat belt usage while driving, and the Rock the Belt campaign will encourage greater rates of seat belt usage among teen drivers.

The campaign also includes a Rollover Simulator lesson plan which involves a PowerPoint presentation, videos of rollover simulations, data on the consequences associated with rollover accidents as well as the risk factors, that contribute to these deadly accidents including drowsy driving and speeding.

Published on: May 18, 2020

Georgia Rolls Back “No Driving Test” Concession for Teen Drivers

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has rolled back his decision allowing new drivers to receive their driver’s licenses without a road test.

The order allowing drivers to skip road tests was issued on April 23^rd after the state had implemented massive social distancing measures and shelter-in-place orders in the face of the expanding COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, Governor Brian Kemp’s office released an order that immediately suspended driving tests for teen drivers. The order made no mention of rescheduling the road tests.

However, criticism from parents as well as traffic safety advocates seems to have pressured the Governor to reconsider his decision, and thankfully better sense has prevailed. Governor Kemp has now signed a new order which makes it clear that all new drivers who have received their licenses since the April order must take the road exam. After the April order suspending driving tests, as many as 20,000 Georgia teens had obtained their driver’s licenses without appearing for road tests. These teens must now take their road tests in order to retain their licenses. The new order gives drivers until September 30^th to fulfill this requirement and take their tests. The order also provides for individuals to take the test either remotely or with a supervisor in the vehicle.

Published on: November 16, 2012

Georgia Committee of Teen Drivers to Advise on Accident Prevention

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The governor of Georgia has announced the establishment of a committee that would consist entirely of teenagers, for the purpose of advising state officials on ways to reduce car accidents in Atlanta and across the state.

Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that the commission, called the Gov.’s Commission on Teen Driving would constitute a panel of teenagers from around Georgia.These teenagers would be selected based on applications received by the state.About 15 to 20 teenage drivers will be included on the panel.

According to the Gov.’s Office of Highway Safety, Gov. Nathan Deal has significant concerns about accidents and fatalities facing many of Georgia’s youngest drivers.The Governor’s Office is encouraging teenage motorists between the ages of 15 and 19 to apply for positions on the panel, because this can present them with a unique opportunity to help formulate laws that affect teenage safety.

Published on: May 29, 2012

Georgia Parents Can Help Prevent Teen Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Under Georgia law, several restrictions are placed on teenage drivers. This is done to help reduce the risk of accidents due to inexperience or high risk behavior. A new study indicates to our Atlanta car accident attorneys exactly how important it is for parents to be involved in preventing accidents involving their teenage children.

The study, conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that a teenage motorist’s risk of being killed in an accident increases proportionately to the number of young passengers he has in his car. That finding isn’t unexpected, but the study does confirm some frightening facts about teen driver safety.

According to the survey, a teenager’s risk of being killed in an accident increases by 44% when he is traveling with one passenger below the age of 21. That is a staggering increase in risk, and should come as an eye-opener to many parents of teens. Further, when the teenager is traveling with two passengers under 21, his risk doubles, and when he is traveling with three or more passengers under 21, the risk of an accident increases by four times.

Published on: October 15, 2011

Teen Motorist Pleads Guilty in Fatal Villa Rica Drunk Driving Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

While intoxicated driving as a factor in auto accidents has declined, Atlanta car accident lawyers find that it still continues to be a major cause of teen-related accidents.A teen motorist, who was driving the car involved in an accident that killed a teenage passenger, has pleaded guilty to charges of drunken driving and vehicular homicide.

The teen driver was 17 years old at the time of the accident.He was driving with two teenagers in his car, when his car flipped over.A sixteen-year-old teenage passenger was killed in the accident and another teenager was seriously injured.Last week, the driver pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving and vehicle manslaughter, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The three teenagers had been at a party in Douglasville, where a lot of teenagers were drinking alcohol.Several people have already been charged with supplying alcohol to minors in this case.According to authorities, many of these people supplied alcohol to teenagers at two different parties that the victim attended on the night of the accident.

Published on: February 7, 2011

Atlanta’s ADHD Teenage Drivers May Have Higher Risk of Auto Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Atlanta teenagers, who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, may suffer from concentration difficulties that increase their risk of an auto accident. Greg Fabiano at the University of Buffalo is studying ADHD among teen drivers. The study focused on two separate groups of drivers with learning permits. The first group was given additional driver’s education that included 3.5 hours in a simulator and the use of a monitoring device in the car that recorded driving behavior. The second group of teen drivers was given the additional training, the monitoring device in the car, as well as a signed contract with their parents that rewarded good driving behavior and punished undesirable driving practices.

The study is a work in progress, and final results will not be available for many years. However, preliminary findings seem to indicate that teenagers, who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, have difficulties in concentration that could cause them to be distracted, and increase the risks of an auto accident. Besides, these risks are amplified manifold if these ADHD teens also text or use cell phone calls while driving.

Surprisingly to Atlanta car accident lawyers, the study also finds that teenagers actually like having an in-car monitoring device, because they can show their parents that they are driving safely.