A just-issued national traffic-safety report makes reference to the 1,244 people who died in Georgia in car accidents during 2010, as well as to the nearly $8 billion in costs accrued related to those crashes and fatalities.
That is certainly sobering and, owing to collisions, speeding, DUI crashes, reckless driving, distracted driving and other problems behind the wheel, similarly dismal numbers come from virtually every state.
There is a difference, though. According to the 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws, complied by the safety group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS), Georgia is among the minority of states that merits special mention for being a comparatively safe locale for driving.
In fact, the organization ranks the state as a "green" state, meaning that, along with 16 other states, it has "significantly advanced toward adoption of all Advocates' recommended highway safety laws."
There are 15 such laws (e.g., primary enforcement seat belt law; first-offender ignition interlock requirement; absolute cell phone ban; all-rider motorcycle helmet law, etc.). In the view of AHAS, a state with every law on the book would constitute a near-perfect driving environment.
In AHAS's rating system, Georgia scores out at a 10.5, which is comparatively high.
AHAS researchers say it can do even better by making just a few select changes. As we noted in a recent blog post, the state is not among those that requires installation of an ignition interlock device for first-time DUI offenders. AHAS would like to see that changed.
Additionally, the organization is focused on teen drivers and the state's graduated driver's licensing system, which it thinks can be improved.
Specifically, AHAS recommends that the minimum age for a learner's permit be bumped up from 15 to 16. Additionally, it suggests changing the secondary enforcement of nighttime restriction violations to primary enforcement.
Last, it recommends implementing a tight passenger restriction provision on drivers in the GDL program.
Source: Sacramento Bee, "2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws shows fiscal impact of highway safety gaps" Jan. 11, 2012
