Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging:
Greater potential for loss of vehicle control;
Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment;
Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger;
Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries;
Economic implications of a speed-related crash; and
Increased fuel consumption/cost.
Speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder—it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road:
Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicles more easily.
Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.
To stay safe on the road consider taking a defensive driving class. A-1 offers classes virtually and at 19 locations where you can learn more tricks and tips such as these!
Teen drivers are considered to be one of the most vulnerable age groups for drowsy driving crashes and a majority of these types of crashes for drivers of all age groups happen overnight, often on rural roads and highways.
It’s not always easy to tell when you’re too tired to drive. Here are some signs that it’s time to pull over:
Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
Trouble keeping your head up
Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
Feeling restless and irritable
The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.
Though most city roads have the provision of zebra crossing near traffic signals and other intersections, drivers seem to show a disregard for them as they can often be seen violating norms.
At places where zebra crossings are available, vehicles are required to be stopped behind them but at most such places, vehicles can be seen standing on these lines, which hardly leaves any place for pedestrians to cross.
Photo: Google Image
“People do not have the habit of following simple traffic etiquette or maybe they are not even aware. There is a need to impart education on traffic etiquette so that people start following the rules,” said an elderly Jagjit Singh.
What Are Georgia’s Rules for Crossing Intersections?
Pedestrians must cross intersections at a crosswalk. While most people consider a crosswalk as the pathway across the intersection denoted with white lines (i.e., a marked crosswalk), it is important to note that there are both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
An unmarked crosswalk is a line between one side of the roadway and the other. The only way this differs from a marked crosswalk is that there are no distinguishing marks.
If a pedestrian is in either a marked or unmarked crosswalk, he has the right-of-way. Drivers must yield to pedestrians already inside these crosswalks, regardless of whether the driver has a green light or not.
What Responsibilities Do Drivers Have?
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, motorists must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians at crosswalks. Drivers must stay put until the pedestrian has vacated the driver’s side of the road.
Georgia law also holds that a driver cannot overtake another motorist who has stopped for a pedestrian.
What Responsibilities Do Pedestrians Have?
Pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to drivers outside of crosswalks. While you can cross the street outside of a crosswalk, you must wait until traffic has cleared. If a pedestrian is hit outside a crosswalk, they might be liable for any injuries he sustains.
While pedestrians do have the right-of-way in crosswalks, Georgia’s crosswalk laws dictate that “no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.”
If you step into a crosswalk in front of oncoming traffic and suffer injuries in an accident, you might be liable for your own injuries.
The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to being a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.
Your chances of hitting a deer or other animal while driving on a U.S. road jumped by more than 7 percent in the last year, State Farm found in its 19th annual animal collision study released this week.
Motorists collided with animals an estimated 2.1 million times between July 2020 and June 2021, according to the analysis. Crashes happened in every state and peaked in October, November, and December.
Historically, November is the most dangerous month for deer and other animal collisions, according to State Farm.
Where you live also plays an important role in how likely you are to drive your car into a deer or other animal.
In the 12 months examined by State Farm, Georgia motorists had a 1 in 83 chance of colliding with an animal. State Farm marks the Peach State as high risk, making it more likely to hit an animal while driving.
State rankings are determined by taking the number of licensed drivers in a state and comparing it to the total number of animal collisions there, according to State Farm. The company also ranked states based on the number of collisions involving animals where an insurance claim was filed.
Which animals are we hitting? Deer are reported most frequently — an estimated 1.4 million collisions were with deer, according to State Farm. Next on the list are more than 189,000 collisions with “unidentified animals,” followed by rodents, dogs and raccoons.
While not in the top five, State Farm said, the range of other animals involved in collisions is “extremely diverse.” The company’s claims database includes reports of chickens, alligators, bats, cows, pigs, armadillos, bears, donkeys, eagles, horses, coyotes, owls, and cats
Tips to avoid hitting deer:
Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn.
If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road.
Pay attention to deer crossing signs.
Always buckle up — every trip, every time.
Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.
Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which can result in a more severe crash.
Remain focused on the road. Scan for potential dangers, including animals.
Avoid distractions. Devices or eating might cause you to miss seeing an animal.
Do not rely on products such as deer whistles. They are not proven effective.
If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear. Keep focused on the road ahead.
The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle.
Athens-Clarke police announced they have identified the man they believe was driving a car that hit and killed a University of Georgia student.
Police are trying to locate
Photo: Google Images
the suspect, Donterris Gresham, 29, of Athens. Warrants have been obtained charging him with first-degree vehicular homicide, hit and run involving death, failure to obey a traffic device, traveling too fast for conditions, and driving while unlicensed.
The crash claimed the life of 20-year-old Ariana Zarse, a junior majoring in marketing at the Terry College of Business.
Our condolences go to the family and friends of Ariana.
Her death marks Athens’ 20th fatal motor vehicle crash this year.
The hit-and-run occurred near the railroad crossing on East Broad Street just east of Foundry Street, according to police. The gray Honda Accord was traveling west into downtown Athens when Zarse, of Austin, Texas, was hit, police said.
The Honda fled the scene, according to police.
Zarse was walking with a friend, who was not struck, the report said.
A police officer responding to the crash scene was traveling on North Avenue when witnesses flagged him over about a car that sounded like it was scraping the ground, Barnett said.
What Responsibilities Do Drivers Have?
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, motorists must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians at crosswalks. Drivers must stay put until the pedestrian has vacated the driver’s side of the road.
Georgia law also holds that a driver cannot overtake another motorist who has stopped for a pedestrian.
The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.
The accident happened near I-85 S and Plasters Avenue.
According to Georgia State Patrol’s preliminary investigation, a driver in a Chevrolet Camaro was weaving in and out of traffic at a high speed on I-85 just south of Piedmont Road.
Witnesses told GSP that the driver of the Camaro was racing another vehicle and struck the driver of a Kia Optima, which caused the driver to lose control and go into the right emergency lane. At that time, a woman in a broken-down Chevrolet Cruz was already in the emergency lane when the crash happened.
The impact of the crash caused the woman in the Chevrolet Cruz to be launched off the interstate bridge. GSP said the woman landed on Plasters Avenue NE, near the HERO headquarters.
She was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver in the Camaro is being charged with reckless driving, too fast for conditions, failure to maintain lane, improper lane change, and serious injury by motor vehicle.
Speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder—it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road:
Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicles more easily.
Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.
On average, it can cost anywhere between 130% to 160% extra to add a teenager to the auto insurance policy.
This means you could be paying a minimum of an additional $2,000 a year in premiums for auto coverage.
The first couple of years of driving for a teenager are statistically the most dangerous of all. Teen drivers can lower their car crash risk by enrolling in a defensive driving course & lower car insurance rates!
Teen drivers that graduate from a defensive driving course can get the following benefits:
Photo: Google Images
Save on insurance premiums!
Learning the fundamentals of driving
Builds confidence
Shows them the risks
Learning the consequences
In this course, teens will learn about the effects of driving under influence (DUI). Teen drivers will also learn they will have to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others.
According to the weekly press release from Montrae Waiters, the spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, Georgia drivers experienced a sharp 8-cent increase over the past week.
“The probable cause for the increase appears to be an uptick in demand and the high price of crude oil, which is stubbornly staying above $70 per barrel. High crude prices will likely contribute to gas prices remaining elevated this season,” Waiters said in a statement.
The price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Cobb County is $3.049 at the time of this writing, about one cent less expensive than the statewide average.
How does AAA determine gas prices?
According to AAA:Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.
Photo: Google Images
Whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver, A-1 offers classes that will help you brush up on some rules and regulations before it’s too late.
If you have a clean driving record for 3 years, you may take the 6-hour Defensive Driving Program to receive a 10% -15% discount on your auto insurance premium. The insurance discount percentage is determined by your insurance company.
Apple announced that the Transportation Security Association (TSA) will accept digital IDs from Georgia’s Department of Drivers Services (DDS) next year.
“We are excited about being on the cutting edge of technology and to have an option for a mobile license in addition to the hard card” DDS communications director Shevondah Leslie said.
DDS says “option” is the keyword. Physical driver’s licenses are not going anywhere. The digital cards will supplement the traditional cards.
“Your license will be encrypted according to Apple,” University of North Georgia professor Bryson Payne said. “But it still leaves your iPhone open to theft. If you don’t use Apple ID to lock it, then anyone who picks up your phone can get your information.”
Apple says a handful of states including Georgia, Arizona, Kentucky, and Iowa are among the first to link Apple wallet to their state IDs.
DDS says they’re considering options for Android users.
Your driver’s license gives you the legal right to drive. In return, you’re expected to obey the relevant traffic laws.
One way that many states keep track of your driving history is to assign points to your license if you get a ticket for a moving violation!
Point System: Points are added to your license upon conviction of certain violations. The Georgia Point System ranges from 2 to 6 points.
How do I reduce points on my Georgia driver’s license?
Up to 7 points can be reduced once every 5 years. In accordance with rule O.C.G.A §40-5-86
To qualify for a Points Reduction, you must successfully complete a certified Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course. Once you complete the Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course: Bring the original certificate of completion to a DDS Customer Service Center or you can request a Points reduction by Mail. Mail the original certificate of completion to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, P. O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013.
A-1 is proud to say that we offer certified defensive driving classes visit a1drivingshcools.com for more information!
Officers have been made aware of several recent incidents of people riding on the outside of moving semi-trucks on local highways.
The Atlanta Police Department explains that these acts put not only the “stowaway” clinging to the massive truck at risk but the drivers behind and next to the violated truck, in danger.
The department is asking people who see these incidents to put their cameras down and use their phones to call 911 instead.
APD says in a statement on social media, “The safety of our citizens is our number one priority. We take these incidents seriously, and we want to send a strong message to those that continue to put Atlanta on the map or on the ‘Gram’ for things that don’t serve our greater good, make us better, or uplift our city.”
Photo: Google Images
Motor collisions continue to injure and claim the lives of many people every year.
It is recommended that drivers practice defensive driving at all times to avoid collisions!
Drivers are advised to not drive too closely behind other cars so that they can have more time to maneuver in case those vehicles abruptly come to a stop.
Drivers should also activate their car signals whenever they decide to change lanes, turn a certain direction, speed up, or slow down.
Car owners must also carry out regular and proper maintenance of their vehicles.
The same and more safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle.
There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver!
Each student will receive a Certificate of Completion!
For more information about class schedules call (770)962-9555 or more details can be found on A-1’s official website www.a1drivingschools.com.
