July is one of the most dangerous months of the year for road travel, with car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents spiking annually at this time.
Why?
Because summertime usually means Fourth of July celebrations, vacations, and road trips. More traffic during holidays and celebrations can also lead to an increase in distracted, reckless driving, and drunk driving. Let’s review some of the data and statistics on the roads of Georgia and Tennessee and the stories they tell.
Prepare for Drunk Driving on TN and GA Roads
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that the Independence Day holiday, along with the other federal holidays, such as (Memorial Day and Labor Day) tend to have the highest average fatality rates per day.
From 2017 to 2023, the average number of Independence Day traffic deaths was 16.2% higher than the average number of traffic deaths during comparison periods (where, for example, the holiday started an early weekend).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released data on alcohol-impaired driving that everyone in Tennessee or North Georgia should know. In 2022:
- Georgia saw 1,797 traffic fatalities in 2022; and 857 of which involved drivers whose blood alcohol content (BAC) was more than the state limit of .08. An additional 599 fatalities were caused by drivers with BAC of less than .08. According to the Georgia Virtue, 21 of the fatalities were due to drunk driving during that year’s three-day July 4th holiday in 2022.
- Tennessee saw 1,314 traffic fatalities in 2022, 590 of which involved drivers whose blood alcohol content (BAC) was more than the state limit of .08. An additional 435 fatalities were caused by drivers with BAC of less than .08.
Car travel has the highest fatality rate of any major form of motorized transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile. The best way to avoid being causing a drunk driving accident in North Georgia and Tennessee is to drive sober, designate a driver, or hire a driver.
Reckless and Aggressive Driving
With so many cars and trucks on the road trying to reach their destination, there is a solid chance you will encounter aggressive or reckless driving. Reckless drivers typically are engaged in unsafe behavior. This can include distracted driving (which we’ll discuss shortly) and aggressive driving.
The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as “a combination of moving traffic offenses to endanger other persons or property.” Aggressive driving is behavior that disregards the safety of others, and can range from risky behavior to serious violence.
Aggressive driving can take another form, “road rage,” which can be triggered when another driver acts in a way that prevents you from driving safely, such as tailgating or cutting you off at a highway exit.
Some strategies to quell your own road rage:
- Keep your cool and maintain your composure. This could be a challenge, especially if you are alone, but act as though you are being watched by your loved ones. If you are calm enough, and it is safe to do so, pull over to regain your control. You would not want to put them in harm’s way, so calm yourself.
- Avoid conformation. Road rage might make a driver want to catch up to someone else to scare them or flip them off. Avoid this behavior at all costs, as it is illegal and could have tragic results.
- Know when to call the police. If you feel threatened or if the situation becomes dangerous, call 911.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving takes many forms, such as eating, listening to music and talking with passengers. But texting and cell phone use while driving has become the most prevalent type. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
Georgia and Tennessee ban handheld phone and text messaging for drivers, but the problem persists. The idea that the rules won’t apply to us needs to stop if we want to decrease distracted driving injuries and related personal injury claims in North Georgia and Tennessee.
Know the Risky Roadways North Georgia and Tennessee
Certain roadways in North Georgia and Tennessee are prone to accidents – and this will only be heightened during high-traffic holidays. As one of the leading North Georgia trucking accident law firms, Pritchard Injury Firm has litigated several trucking and motor vehicle claims stemming from accidents in the following areas:
- Woodstock GA-92 | Lovejoy Lane to Cherokee Parkway
- Woodstock I-575 | Exit 19-21
- Cherokee Parkway
- Woodstock | Main Street and Arnold Mill Road
- Woodstock | Towne Lake Parkway and Big Canoe Road
- Canton | Highway 20 (Knox Bridge Highway)
Chattanooga, Tennessee has its share of risky roadways as well. The list below provides key spots to be aware of near the south border:
- The Highway 153 off-ramp, northbound to Hixon Pike
- I-24 at Germantown Road and South Terrace
- Intersection of 4th Ave and 23rd Street (Parallel to I-24)
- Downtown - Market Street at 3rd and 4th Street
- Shallowford Road
Your GA/TN Personal Injury Lawyer
Filing a personal injury claim quickly after an auto or trucking accident and consulting with an injury lawyer in North Georgia or Tennessee will help maximize the value for your physical, mental and property damages.
Pritchard Injury Firm is here to provide the compassionate legal and emotional support you deserve. Contact Pritchard Injury Firm for a free consultation.