You know that distracted drivers are dangerous drivers and that reckless drivers are probably more so. In the State of Georgia, there are different criteria that help to distinguish one form of dangerous driving from another, and the distinction between distracted driving and reckless driving is one such example. If another driver’s negligence – in whatever form – leaves you injured, do not wait to consult with an experienced Georgia car accident attorney.
Distracted Driving: Texting behind the Wheel
Distracted driving is a kind of reckless driving that is so prevalent and so dangerous that Georgia has specific laws preventing it. Texting behind the wheel has been crowned the most dangerous distraction of all, and the practice is far too common. When a motorist reads or writes a text, it takes an average of about five seconds, and that is five death-defying seconds when the driver is not paying attention to the road ahead at all.
Texting or other smartphone use combines all three forms of distraction into one activity, including:
- Having one’s thoughts distracted
- Having one’s hands distracted
- Having one’s sight distracted
In Georgia, it is now illegal to even hold a phone in one’s hand at a stoplight, and this is not to mention once a driver gets some speed behind him or her.
Other Forms of Distraction
Distracted driving does not begin and end with texting. In Georgia, distracted driving is defined as engaging in any activity that distracts the person behind the wheel from operating the vehicle safely, including:
- Engaging in any other activity on one’s phone
- Drinking and/or eating
- Conversing with passengers
- Adjusting the radio dials
- Interacting with the GPS or navigation system
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving involves recklessly disregarding the safety of others or their property, which makes it exceptionally dangerous driving. An additional measure of damages or compensation is available to punish those drivers who have a pattern or history of reckless driving. However, reckless driving is distinguished from aggressive driving though as it does not require the intent to aggravate or harm others. Some of the most common forms of reckless driving include the following:
- Speeding excessively (whether in relation to the speed limit or to conditions on the road)
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Passing on the shoulder
- Failing to obey traffic signs, lights, or traffic signals
- Failing to yield when required to by signs, crosswalks, or traffic signals
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Driving while distracted by one’s phone or anything else
In other words, distraction is a form of reckless driving that is so dangerous and so prevalent that it has been awarded its own category.
An Experienced Forsyth County Car Accident Attorney Is on Your Side
The Cumming car accident attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland have impressive reserves of experience guiding claims like yours toward beneficial resolutions that compensate our clients for their physical, financial, and emotional damages – in their entirety. For more information about how we can also help you, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 770-887-1209 today.