The great state of Georgia has long promoted driver safety through clear-cut legislation ensuring the protection of all Georgians on the road. With guardrails like the Hands-Free Law, Move Over Law, and the Right on Red Rule, extensive measures have been taken to protect Georgians. Despite this, teenagers account for 13% of all car accidents in Georgia. The Hands-Free Law has led to a reduction in crash fatalities caused by distracted driving, but 30% of all accidents resulting in serious injuries were prompted by distracted driving.
The laws against distracted driving are a decent deterrent, but given the statistics, they are not enough. In order for the drivers of Georgia, especially teen drivers, to understand the gravity of distracted driving, penalties for first-time offenders must be increased. I am not advocating for law enforcement officers to arrest those caught using their devices while driving, but rather to increase the monetary penalty drivers receive. For first-time offenders, the fine is currently $50 and a single point on their driver's license. My concern is rooted in the fact that the “first time” could easily be the last. The most vulnerable groups to distracted driving are pedestrians and cyclists, and their lives must be worth more than $50. In the United States, the average cost of a speeding ticket is $150, 100 more than a first-time offender would have to pay. A precedent must be set against distracted driving as the consequences are worth the lives of all Georgians.
In addition to increasing fines, state legislators in Georgia should allocate more funding to spreading awareness about crash fatalities caused by distracted driving. Because texting and driving are so infamous among teen drivers, all public schools in the state of Georgia should be required to host a week-long seminar on the importance of driver safety. These programs could be funded by an increase in the school district's budget or if said school applies for traffic safety grants, programs notorious for providing funding for driver education within schools.
As Georgia teens transition from their learner permits to their licenses, they are told not to text and drive, but my fear is that they do not understand the dire consequence of distracted driving. Schools need to create initiatives that will engage students in meaningful ways. Social Media has played an integral role in educating new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, and if used correctly, can continue to act as a deterrent against texting while driving. Some schools have created contests in which students create public service announcements pertaining to driver safety, using social media, posters, and other methods of outreach. Law enforcement agencies and fire safety departments are always eager to speak to the youth about driver safety, and schools should use this to their advantage. Right across the street from my school is the Savannah Fire Department, and as a student prefect, I have tirelessly advocated for local firemen to give their first-hand perspective on the importance of driver safety.
The Hands Free Law addresses the legal consequences of texting and driving, but I believe there is a responsibility that has been placed on Georgians and community leaders to bolster support for a safer environment on our roads. Chatham County hosts a plethora of events addressing domestic and gun violence, food insecurity, and homelessness- but there are little to no events focused on safe driving. Spaces like Daffin Park, Forsyth Park, and the various squares in downtown Savannah are notorious for their role in advocacy and can be pivotal in preventing distracted driving. Being chair of The Chatham County Youth Commission has shown me there are several groups within each and every community willing to do the work necessary for those in need. All drivers, whether they have just received their license or have been driving for years, require reminders about proper conduct on the roads, and the arbiters of these efforts are not limited to law enforcement.
Any and all efforts aimed at drivers are crucial in limiting the tragic loss of life caused by distracted driving. When movements for safe driving are spearheaded by members of the community, especially teen drivers, the gravity of its importance is clearer and transparent. Many people only care about texting and driving when they see the mangled remains of a car or the melancholy testimonies of parents who have lost children, but the fight against distracted driving is one that must be unwavering and relentless. Georgians and all Americans owe it to themselves and their communities to continue the fight against distracted driving. The importance of the collective responsibility we must bear in order to foster safer roads is one I cherish and hope to amplify during my time at University.