Distracted driving is one of the biggest threats to your safety on Georgia’s roads. The Georgia Traffic Safety Fact Sheet (GTFS) 2022 reported that 53% of all crashes in 2022 involved at least one distracted driver. That means more than half of Georgia crashes could have been avoided if a driver kept their focus where it belonged – on the road ahead.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 53% of all crashes in Georgia involved at least one confirmed or suspected distracted driver.
- Georgia’s Hands-Free Law makes it illegal to hold a phone while driving, but enforcement data show that the problem persists.
- Young drivers (ages 15–24) are overrepresented in distraction-related crashes and fatalities.
- Distracted driving often leads to serious injuries, pain and suffering, and long-term costs for victims.
- Georgia residents can reduce risk by avoiding distractions, reporting unsafe drivers, and documenting evidence after a crash.
- If prevention isn’t enough, Dan Chapman & Associates focuses exclusively on personal injury law, helping victims recover the compensation they deserve.
For Georgia residents, the rise of distracted driving brings serious risks, whether you’re driving on I-285, commuting through Conyers, or navigating back roads in rural counties. This guide examines the issue in detail, outlines steps you can take if you’re affected, and explains when legal assistance may be necessary.
What Distracted Driving Really Looks Like
Distracted driving is more than texting while driving. It includes three broad categories:
- Visual distractions – looking away from the road (e.g., checking a GPS, reading a text, or reading a billboard)
- Manual distractions – taking your hands off the wheel (e.g., eating, looking in a purse, or adjusting the radio)
- Cognitive distractions – taking your mind off driving (e.g., talking to passengers or daydreaming)
Georgia’s Hands-Free Law, passed in 2018, made it illegal to hold a cell phone while driving. Despite this law, just look at other drivers on any given day when you are driving, and many of them are distracted by cell phones while driving. It remains a widespread problem. In 2023, Fulton County led the state with 437 post-crash citations, followed by Chatham, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton. These five counties alone accounted for nearly one-third of all distracted driving citations in the state of Georgia.
But the numbers don’t stop there. Convictions have increased sharply since 2018, when the Hands-Free Law took effect. In 2023, Gwinnett County recorded 6,241 convictions, with Clayton, Henry, Hall, and Bartow rounding out the top five. Together, those counties represented almost 29% of all convictions in the state.
The takeaway? Distracted driving doesn’t only happen in Atlanta traffic. It affects commuters on I-285 trying to manage navigation apps, delivery drivers flipping between orders on Buford Highway, and even rural residents on long, empty stretches of road where answering a call feels harmless.
The risks are everywhere, across cities, suburbs, and small towns.
Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous
The danger of distracted driving isn’t just in how often it happens; it’s in how severe the crashes can be.
- In 2022, 30% of all serious-injury crashes in Georgia involved at least one distracted driver.
- Nationwide, 3,308 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2022.
- An observational study from 2023 found that 19.6% of Georgia drivers were observed to have some form of distraction (i.e., talking, texting, dialing, or eating). It’s a sobering reminder that nearly 1 in 7 cars around you may not have a fully attentive driver.
Young drivers are especially at risk:
The reasons are clear: inexperience, heavier reliance on phones, and peer pressure from passengers all contribute to risky behaviors. A teen glancing at Snapchat on a neighborhood street in Snellville is just as dangerous as a distracted truck driver crossing lanes on I-20.
The result is not only higher crash frequency but also more severe outcomes. Distracted drivers often fail to brake in time (or at all), resulting in high-speed, high-impact collisions. Think about it. A drunk driver is trying to drive and keep their eyes on the road, but his or her impairment may cause a delay in reaction time or the inability to see something clearly. However, they are still trying to see the road ahead. On the other hand, a distracted driver is not even looking ahead on the road.
How Distracted Driving Affects You
When a distracted driver causes a crash, victims often face more than vehicle damage. Common outcomes include:
- Medical costs – hospital stays, surgeries, ongoing therapy
- Lost wages – time away from work while recovering
- Pain and suffering – emotional and physical trauma from the accident
- Long-term impact – lifestyle changes, limited mobility, or lasting injuries
Beyond physical injuries, you, as a victim, are forced to go through insurance claims and fault disputes. Insurance companies often argue that distraction can’t be proven, which makes recovering fair compensation more difficult.
What You Can Do About Distracted Driving
While drivers can’t control the behavior of others, there are steps to reduce your risk and protect yourself:
- Avoid distractions yourself. Use hands-free devices, set your GPS before driving, and don’t multitask behind the wheel.
- Stay alert to other drivers. Watch for swerving, delayed reactions, or drivers looking down at their phones.
- Educate younger drivers. Teen drivers are the highest risk group for distraction-related crashes. Set rules and model safe driving behavior.
- Report dangerous behavior. If you see someone repeatedly texting or weaving, you can report them to law enforcement through non-emergency lines or apps like See Something, Send Something Georgia.
- Document everything after a crash. If you are in an accident:
- Call the police immediately and request that the distraction be noted in the report.
- Get witness contact information and take photos of the scene.
- Ask your attorney later about securing the at-fault driver’s cell phone records, which can be crucial in proving distraction.
- Call the police immediately and request that the distraction be noted in the report.
- Access accident reports. Georgia residents can obtain official crash reports through the Georgia Department of Transportation or local police departments, which may provide helpful evidence if legal action is needed.
These steps empower Georgia residents to take control where possible, but sometimes even the best prevention isn’t enough.
If You’ve Done Everything and Still Need Help
If you or someone you know has taken every precaution but still suffered harm due to a distracted driver, legal assistance may be necessary. That’s where Dan Chapman & Associates comes in.
Our firm specializes exclusively in personal injury law. This isn’t a side practice; it’s our sole mission. By dedicating all of our experience and resources to personal injury, we’ve built trial-tested strategies that hold negligent drivers accountable and give accident victims a real chance at justice.
And we don’t charge a single cent unless we win your case.
Final Thoughts
Distracted driving remains one of the most serious safety challenges in Georgia. From over half of crashes involving distraction to the high risk posed by young drivers, the numbers reveal just how significant a problem it is.
While individuals can take steps to protect themselves (such as driving defensively, avoiding their own distractions, and reporting unsafe drivers), sometimes those efforts aren’t enough. When that happens, Dan Chapman & Associates is ready to help.
Our attorneys proudly serve Conyers, Atlanta, Decatur, Gwinnett County, and communities across Georgia, fighting exclusively for injury victims. We help clients recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, because victims shouldn’t bear the costs of someone else’s negligence.
If a distracted driver in Georgia has injured you or someone you care about, contact us today for a complimentary case consultation and evaluation.
