Last week we reported a potential distracted driving ordinance that was being brought before Villa Rica’s City Council. The outcome of that vote has been released, and there are controversial views about the result of the decision. Last Tuesday, September 4th, the metro-Atlanta city of Villa Rica voted on a bill that would make a variety of activities illegal while driving. Not only would it include talking or texting on a cell phone, but also posed to ban eating, writing, reading, grooming, and many other activities that would create a potential hazard on Villa Rica roads. We reported that if the ordinance had been approved in Villa Rica, it would have been the only municipality in Georgia with such a law.
The distracted driving law for Villa Rica was rejected when the city council put it to a vote. Many voters and citizens believed it would have made the city’s roads much safer, but the majority did not want it to pass. Many voters’ reasons for not passing the law were that it went farther than even the state law of Georgia, which is not necessary for such a small city. The state law allows for officers to pull drivers over if they seem distracted, but this potential Villa Rica ordinance would have gone much farther and been stricter than even the Georgia distracted driving law. MyFoxAtlanta reported that Villa Rica’s mayor voted against the suggested ordinance because there is no reason to pass such a strict law when the state’s laws are not as severe.
As a Marietta personal injury law firm, we represent a variety of clients who were injured in Georgia auto accidents. Many of those car wrecks resulted from the distracted driving habits of another driver, so we are supportive of Georgia’s distracted driving laws. Perhaps the Villa Rica proposed ordinance was somewhat severe, but that may be what it takes for drivers to take distracted driving seriously. Texting and driving is just a portion of what is considered distracted driving. Any activity that takes your attention off the road, even for a second, is dangerous to you, your passengers, and those around you. If it’s absolutely necessary to perform some task while driving, we suggest finding a safe place to pull over to complete the task. It may be impossible to keep the roads of Georgia completely void of distracted drivers, but every person matters. No one wants to cause others injuries and be held liable, so make sure you don’t put yourself in that position.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a Georgia auto accident as a result of another driver’s negligence or distracted driving, contact our experienced injury attorneys today for a free consultation. We understand your rights and will educate you on the steps that should be taken in potential auto accident injury claims.
Categories: Auto Accidents, Distracted Driving
