Is Distracted Driving a Problem in Northwest Georgia? What We Know

The percent of crashes related to distracted driving in Northwest Georgia counties was close to or below the statewide average, according to a new report from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety .

The bad news is, more than half of the motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022 involved at least one confirmed or suspected distracted driver, based on CODES, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System.

“Distracted driving remains a serious threat to everyone and this report shows the importance of focusing on driving instead of your smartphone or anything else that takes your attention away from the road,” said GOHS Director Allen Poole in a release. “Everyone thinks they can text and drive but the reality is, we all make mistakes and one mistake behind the wheel can cost you or someone else their life.”

More than three-fourths of the distraction related crashes involved at least one other vehicle or non-motorist. Pedestrians and bicyclists made up 13% of those killed or seriously injured in a confirmed distraction related crash.

Statewide, there were 383,633 crashes reported in 2022 and 53% were distraction related.

The counties with the highest proportion were Baker, at 76%, and Crawford, at 71%. Both of them are classified as rural. However, 8 out of the 11 counties within the Atlanta region had a greater percentage of distraction related crashes than the statewide average.

Here’s a look at the Northwest Georgia region:

♦ Floyd County: 52% of the 3,481 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Bartow County: 54% of the 4,057 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Catoosa County: 54% of the 2,188 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Chattooga County: 44% of the 446 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Dade County: 54% of the 220 reported crashes were distraction related.

♦ Gordon County: 45% of the 1,773 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Polk County: 47% of the 1,007 crashes reported were distraction related.

♦ Walker County: 45% of the 1,179 crashes reported were distraction related.

Drivers aged 15 to 24 represented only 15% of all licensed drivers in Georgia but were involved in 26% of all distraction related crashes. Nearly one-third of all distracted driving crash citations were issued to drivers in that age group.

Georgia’s Hands-free Law prohibits drivers from holding or supporting a wireless telecommunications device or standalone electronic device while operating a vehicle. This includes texting, emailing, browsing the internet or using social media.