Posts tagged "Teen Drivers"

Once again, teen driving demographic main focus of safety study

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 21 on Monday, March 4, 2013

Recent safety reports indicate that, once again and tragically, the teen-aged driving population across the country is starkly differentiated from all other driving demographics. It is marked by exuberance, some problems with judgment being exhibited by millions of its members, a propensity for being distracted and, above all else, a noted vulnerability.

And it seems likely to stay that way, with the problems facing teen drivers sometimes seeming both intractable and perpetually recycling. The group's members all face a comparative lack of driving experience, which translates directly to spiked car accident numbers and frequent incidents of speeding, reckless driving and other problematic behaviors.

Continue reading Once again, teen driving demographic main focus of safety study

Tags: car accident, graduated driver's licensing, reckless driving, speeding, teen drivers

Teen Driver Safety Week: spotlight on young motorists

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 21 on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Teen drivers get their own congressionally designated week, making them an especially distinguished group.

Unfortunately, though, that is for all the wrong reasons, as made manifest by a comment earlier this week from David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Continue reading Teen Driver Safety Week: spotlight on young motorists

Tags: car accidents, reckless driving, speeding, teen drivers, underage DUI

Safety experts weigh in on road safety assumptions, solutions

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Monday, February 20, 2012

As we have noted in prior blog posts, a number of motorists automatically think of teen drivers when the words "speeding' or "reckless driving" surface in a conversation. Ditto that for "distracted driving" and any mention of a motorist being insufficiently focused on the road owing to infatuation with an on-board mobile device such as a phone, DVD player or other tech toy that competes for attention.

Safety groups and officials are increasingly noting that such an assumption, while having validity, is overstated. Distracted driving, they say, owes to much more than the new technologies being constantly introduced, and it has always been just as much of a problem for many older drivers as it is for their younger counterparts.

Continue reading Safety experts weigh in on road safety assumptions, solutions

Tags: distracted driving, reckless driving, speeding, teen drivers

Teen driver studies: Upped crash risks with other teens in the car

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Two recently released studies conducted by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance show how teen drivers with other teen passengers are more prone to speeding and accidents.

When teens are driving with multiple passengers, they tend to consider themselves just out for fun and generally have few restrictions set by parents. Also, male and female drivers are often distracted or engaged in other actions just prior to accidents.

Continue reading Teen driver studies: Upped crash risks with other teens in the car

Tags: State Farm Insurance, accidents, drive aggressively, speeding, teen drivers

Georgia near top in safety poll; teens, GDL program still a concern

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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.

Continue reading Georgia near top in safety poll; teens, GDL program still a concern

Tags: 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws, DUI crashes, car accidents, graduated driver's licensing, speeding, teen drivers

Study: GDL programs for teens not peerless, beyond criticism

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Monday, September 19, 2011

Georgia, like most other states, has a graduated driver's license ("GDL") program for novice teen drivers, the obvious goal being to turn them into safe and conscientious motorists as they begin putting miles on state roadways.

The impetus for that program across the country is the wealth of statistics showing that teen drivers are involved to a disproportionately high degree in speeding incidents, reckless driving, failure to yield and other traffic offenses. Progressive education coupled with a gradual lessening of restrictions has uniformly been deemed by safety authorities as the optimal response to those behaviors and the most logical antidote to curb their development.

Continue reading Study: GDL programs for teens not peerless, beyond criticism

Tags: GDL, graduated driver's license, reckless driving, speeding, teen drivers

Teen charged with speeding, 20 other counts after 110 mph chase

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Friday, September 16, 2011

A 17-year-old from Dallas, Georgia, allegedly led a Paulding County Sheriff's deputy on a chase at speeds of up to 110 mph during morning rush hour yesterday. The pursuit ended with the car crashing onto a residential lawn, and the teen has been charged with speeding, felony eluding of the police, felony interference with government property, minor in possession of alcohol, reckless and aggressive driving, driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident, and 13 other criminal and traffic offenses.

The incident apparently began when the teen pulled up behind the deputy at a stoplight shortly after 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The deputy noticed the teen's "excessively loud music," got out of his cruiser and walked back to talk to the young man. Unfortunately, the 17-year-old was unable to produce a driver's license. When the deputy went back to his car, the teen allegedly sped off.

Continue reading Teen charged with speeding, 20 other counts after 110 mph chase

Tags: MIP, Super Speeder Law, Teen Drivers, Traffic Violations, aggressive and reckless driving, driving without a license, eluding police, high-speed chase, speeding and reckless driving, young drivers under 18

Speeding, Reckless Driving, DUI: Safety Proposals, GA's Laws

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Speeding-Related Offenses on Monday, August 22, 2011

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ("IIHS") is an independent and nonprofit national organization that, in its own words, is "dedicated to reducing the losses -- deaths, injuries and property damage -- from crashes on the nation's highways."

With that self-imposed mandate come specific recommendations from the institute for increasing road safety, in Georgia and all other states throughout the country. The suggestions that the IIHS urges all states to uniformly adopt encompass strategies focused on all the contributing factors to motor vehicle accidents, including drunk driving, speeding and acts of reckless driving, teen drivers and other crash catalysts.

Continue reading Speeding, Reckless Driving, DUI: Safety Proposals, GA's Laws

Tags: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drunk driving, motor vehicle accidents, reckless driving, sobriety checkpoints, speeding, teen drivers

Study Says Teenagers Are Less Eager To Get Behind The Wheel

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Friday, December 17, 2010

Growing up includes many important milestones. Traditionally, one of the most important milestones of youth has been the day we turn 16 and can finally take our driver's test. Having a license means freedom and independence. It means being an adult. At least, that's what it used to mean.

A new national study reports that fewer teenagers are rushing to get a driver's license as soon as they turn 16. Numbers are significantly down. In fact, these days only 30.7 percent of teens are getting their licenses right away. Twenty years ago that number was closer to 45 percent. For teens, driving used to mean freedom, an enhanced social life, and independence. Now, the study says, driving means financial burden, less time for social media, and the fear of a fatal car accident.

Continue reading Study Says Teenagers Are Less Eager To Get Behind The Wheel

Tags: Teen Drivers, car accidents, fatal crash

Happy Independence Day

By Jim Miskell posted in DUI on Thursday, July 1, 2010

With this happy celebration of our Nation's Independence Day quickly approaching, I just wanted to remind all that the police will be out patrolling heavily this entire weekend. Make sure to buckle up and drive safe, not to mention have a sober driver if you will be drinking. The alcohol limit is .08 if you're an adult and .02 if you are under the legal drinking age of 21.

Celebrate safely and Happy Independence Day!

Operation Zero Tolerance - "Over the Limit, Under Arrest"

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, one-third of the 1,700-plus fatal crashes in Georgia every year involve an impaired driver. Operation Zero Tolerance is a DUI enforcement campaign across the country. In Georgia, first-time violators go to jail if you are found to have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at or above the legal limit of .08.

Operation Zero Tolerance

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Tags: DUI, DWI, Georgia, MIP, Teen Drivers, Traffic Tickets, Traffic Violations

Teen Killed in Car Accident

By Jim Miskell posted in Young Drivers Under 18 on Monday, June 28, 2010

17 year old female, Whitney Newman, was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning. Effingham County sheriff's spokesman David Ehsanipoor said Newman was a back seat passenger in the Chevrolet Tracker that flipped over several times after the driver lost control.

Ehsanipoor said two other teenage passengers, one male and one female, were transported to Memorial University Medical Center where they remain in critical condition.

No information was available concerning the driver, an 18-year-old male.

Article

Tags: Car Accident, Reckless Driving, Teen Drivers

Erratic Driving will indicate Texting while Driving

By Jim Miskell posted in Driving Offenses on Friday, June 11, 2010

In relation to our previous post, many questions are being raised on the new texting while driving law. Many residents want to know what criteria police officers will be looking for and how it will be proved that a driver is driving while texting.

Police are going to be looking for erratic driving behaviors when trying to enforce the new ban on texting and driving. The new law goes into effect July 1 and the penalty will be $150 fine. University of Georgia's chief of police said he will be watching for drivers who cross the center lane, blow through a stop sign, or any other behavior that might make him suspicious that texting is behind the negligent driving.

A guideline for Troopers is still being developed, according to Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright.

Click here to read full story.

Tags: Reckless Driving, Teen Drivers, Texting, Traffic Violations

Controversial Program Cuts Unlicensed Driving in Gwinnett County

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Driver's License Suspension on Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Gwinnett County has been participating in a controversial program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that targets illegal immigrants for deportation by checking for unlicensed drivers in routine traffic stops. All motorists -- not just illegal immigrants -- are affected, including those on the road despite a driver's license suspension, underage teen drivers, and others.

The program, known as "287(g)," appears to have resulted in more than a 50% reduction in arrests for driving without a license. According to Sheriff Butch Conway, 1,498 people have been cited for unlicensed driving in Gwinnett County since November 2009, when the County joined the program. Over the same period last year, police had cited 3,530 people for driving without a license.

"I would have to credit 287(g) with that drop," Conway said in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There are increased repercussions to being arrested." Cobb, Hall and Whitfield counties, as well as the Georgia Department of Public Safety, are also participating in the ICE program.

Continue reading Controversial Program Cuts Unlicensed Driving in Gwinnett County

Tags: Driver's License Suspension, Driving Without a License, Gwinnett County, Immigrant Drivers, Teen Drivers

Handing Georgia Teens the Keys to Safe Driving

By Jim Miskell posted in Driving Offenses on Tuesday, May 11, 2010

This past Saturday, May 8, Safe America hosted its 5^th annual Safe Teen Georgia Driving Academy at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Since it was the day before Mother's Day the theme was "Do It For Mom", the 6 hour event brought together teens, parents, and driving safety experts.

One key feature was the "Exit 2 Text it", a new campaign to bring awareness to the anti-texting while driving ban that was just recently passed. This will show the dangers of texting while driving, the equivalent of driving blind-folded the length of a football field.

Keep track of upcoming events sponsored by Safe America Foundation

Tags: Georgia, Reckless Driving, Teen Drivers

Texting While Driving Soon to be Illegal in Georgia

On behalf of The Law Offices of James M. Miskell, P.C. posted in Speeding-Related Offenses on Monday, May 3, 2010

Georgia's House and Senate passed two bills last week that take aim at distracted driving. One bill will make it illegal for drivers in Georgia to text on a handheld device while driving. The other bill will ban teen drivers from talking on cell phones while driving. The bills will become official after being signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue.

The bills' sponsors say the laws will help combat the dangerous practice of distracted driving, which they say has been on the rise. Some critics have complained that it will be difficult for a police officer to prove that an adult with their cell phone out while driving was texting, rather than simply talking on the phone.

The laws' supporters say that someone who is pulled over for texting while driving will also probably be facing a reckless driving charge or one or more other traffic violation charges. A driver who violates either law could face a maximum fine of $150 and one point on their driver's license.

Continue reading Texting While Driving Soon to be Illegal in Georgia

Tags: Distracted Driving, Drivers Under 21, Georgia, Reckless Driving, Teen Drivers