Ethan Farrell, a junior and cross-country runner for Macon County’s Franklin High School, was critically injured over the summer after hydroplaning into another lane as he drove down the mountain on Highway 441. It was a head-on collision that left Farrell seriously injured. He was airlifted from the scene to Mission Hospital in Georgia where…
According to data from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were 253 pedestrian fatalities in 2017. The following year, 261 fatalities were reported. Over the last 5 years, pedestrian deaths in Georgia have increased by 60 percent. The Governor’s Office stated: “The safety and accessibility of pedestrian walkways are critical issues throughout the state and…
Two Georgia families have lost loved ones due to single-vehicle accidents in the same day, within the same hour, in 2 different counties. Keagan Kung-Korte, 17, was driving home from Valdosta State University and was 2 miles from his parents’ house when he hit the fence that ultimately killed him. An hour later, around 5:00…
A high-speed chase late Sunday evening blocked 2 lanes of traffic on I-75 in Georgia when police caught up to the motorcycle rider traveling southbound. Authorities from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop the driver, who was traveling 92 mph. when police started to pursue him. The driver lost control maneuvering around a curve and…
In a recent hearing, the U.S. Department of Transportation took testimony from automakers and industry leaders who wanted smartphone and portable GPS devices included in proposed distracted driving rules. In their current form, the proposed rules would only require automakers to prevent drivers from using in-dash multimedia systems to insert addresses or access the web…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies 3 types of distracted driving practices: Visual (taking your eyes off the road) Cognitive (taking your mind off the task of driving) Manual (taking your hands off the driving wheel). Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all 3 types of distractions. Fortunately, texting while driving is illegal…
Two Georgia Democrats want to ban cell phone use in cars and have introduced a bill they hope will lead to safer roads. The proposed legislation, which would improve on a law passed last year, allows motorists only hands-free use of cell phones. Georgia drivers currently face fines of up to $150 if they are…
Legislators are gearing up for another controversial battle between local governments and the timber industry as the next legislative session begins in January. Timber industry advocates argue that in order for them to be financially viable and provide jobs in a tough economy, their trucks must be allowed to carry heavier loads than state law allows. Local…
Metro Atlanta drivers know how driving habits change on I-285, the perimeter highway that surrounds the city and links many of its first ring suburbs. It is especially known for its fast track and indulgent enforcement of speed laws. The speed limit on I-285 has been 55 miles per hour since 1974, when President Richard…
Several high school wrestlers were injured after a Sunrise Towing Service truck crashed into a bus carrying the Cedartown High School wrestling team on their way back from a match at Sonoraville High School just before Thanksgiving. The crash occurred at the intersection of the Rome Bypass and Georgia Highway 53. According to the Rome…
