GEORGIA LAWMAKERS SEEK TOUGHER LAWS TO COMBAT DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving continues to be the number one leading cause of car accidents in the U.S. According to The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed and 421,000 were injured in distraction-affected crashes. In 2010, the Georgia legislature enacted a prohibition on texting while driving. Just recently, some Georgia lawmakers are seeking to take it a step further and ban talking on cell phones while driving unless the cell phone is linked to a hands-free device. These legislators seek to make talking without a hands-free device while driving a misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $150.00. Although similar proposals have been met with resistance in the past, the mounting statistical data on the dangers of cell phone use while driving may provide a change of tide in support of this legislation. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is already banned in 14 states and restricted in four others.