In order to drive safely in Marietta, drivers should ensure that they are paying attention to the road at all times. However, many people are easily distracted, particularly by their cell phones. Distracted driving can lead to serious accidents and it is a problem that is preventable.
That is why one Georgia lawmaker is supporting a bill that would attach a fine to anyone caught using a cell phone with their hands while they are driving, reports WSBTV. Drivers would still be able to use their phones with a hands-free device. It is already illegal to send text messages while driving but this bill would make any hand-held use illegal. Despite having been proposed in the past, similar bills were unable to pass. This current iteration is headed to the House for vote after successfully passing in committee.
It comes at a crucial time since rate of fatal crashes in Georgia has been on the rise over the last few years, according to the Georgia Daily Journal. While it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how man crashes are attributable to distracted driving, some think that increase occurring at the same time that smartphone use has exploded is more than coincidental. Having constant access to news, social media and contact with friends and family is an addiction for some people and they are unable to resist the urge to use their devices even when they are driving.
The number of people who died in car crashes in Georgia last year was 1,559. That number represents an increase from 2015, which in turn saw a rise in deaths compared to 2014.
