Concerned mom and Warner Robins citizen, Jessica Sullivan, worries about drivers traveling over the posted speed limit in her neighborhood. Located in the subdivision where she’s raising her 9-year-old son, Jerusalem Church Road is often busy with cars going over the posted speed limit.
And she’s not the only one with a small child. Her neighbors have kids too. When they’re outside playing, she worries about what could happen when other drivers aren’t being careful.
“What if a kid runs out in the street for a ball they may get hurt or something?” Sullivan said.
It is suspected that local drivers want to avoid the traffic lights on the main thoroughfares, so they take Jerusalem Church Road as a shortcut to get to Russell Parkway and Feagin Mill, driving well above the 25 mph speed limit. Sullivan has made city leaders aware of the issue and has asked them to address it.
Spokeswoman Mandy Stella responded and hopes to find a solution with the help of the Warner Robins Police Department in the coming months. Speed bumps have been suggested. Unfortunately, because it’s a city road used by emergency vehicles, those aren’t a viable solution.
Another suggestion made by Sullivan was to set up flashing radar signs to help make other drivers aware of their speed and how much they’re going over the limit. Until a permanent solution is found, there are temporary changes that can be made.
Pedestrian accidents prevention in Warner Robins
Pedestrians and drivers alike can play a part in reducing the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities in the area by following basic safety guidelines such as the ones published by the Centers for Disease Control.
- Obey the posted speed limit when driving
- Increase visibility when walking or playing along busy streets, especially at night
- Look both ways and cross the street at designated crosswalks
- Avoid distractions such as toys or electronics
- Be aware of your surroundings
By simply noticing who’s around you and paying attention to traffic conditions can greatly reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident.
Common causes and dangers of speeding
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, speeding killed 9,378 drivers in 2018 and has been one of the most common causes of traffic accidents.
Running late, keeping up with traffic, and unintentionally driving over the limit are the most common reasons why drivers increase their speed. But no matter what the reason is, the consequences are often severe.
Driving over the speed limit is not only breaking the law, but it also endangers other drivers and pedestrians. Furthermore, speeding increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle, increases the severity of damages and injuries, and reduces the effectiveness of the vehicle’s safety equipment.
Major cause of pedestrian deaths
As car accidents have increased across the state, so have pedestrian accidents and fatalities.
According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, pedestrian accidents have increased in the state by 60 percent, and speeding is a big reason why.
Determining liability in a car accident
In order to determine who’s liable for a wreck caused by speeding, there are multiple factors that police and car accident attorneys take into account:
- Where the car was hit. For example, if driver A is sitting at a traffic light when driver B pulls up behind them but doesn’t slow down, driver A will likely have damage to the rear of their car. The most common cause for a rear-end collision is speeding, which means driver B could be held liable.
- Damage to the vehicles. The severity of the damage to each vehicle is also a big clue as to if a driver was speeding. A big dent in driver A’s rear bumper, the bumper falling off entirely, damage to the hood of driver B’s vehicle, and shattered glass can all help determine how fast the car was going when the accident occurred.
- Injuries to the drivers. Whiplash and concussions are common injuries in the event of a speeding car accident. These injuries can occur even in a minor accident, but the more severe the injuries are to both drivers, the more likely police and car accident attorneys will consider speeding as the cause, or one of the causes, of the accident.
- Injuries to pedestrians. The size of the vehicle and the speed at which it was traveling can affect the severity of the injuries to pedestrians. Just like in the case of injuries to drivers in a car accident, the types of injuries to pedestrians can help determine if the driver who hit them was speeding.
- Traffic cameras. Technology has helped cut down on car accidents for decades, and traffic cameras are one of the ways authorities do that. Most major highways and busy streets are equipped with radars and cameras that can monitor the speed and identify speeding vehicles, which can help determine who’s responsible for a car accident.
Contact an experienced Georgia car accident attorney
It’s scary when you or someone you love has been involved in a car or pedestrian accident. You’re likely in pain and anxious about how to move forward, but a professional legal representative can help by negotiating for the best possible outcome.
The attorneys at Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson have served the state of Georgia and the southeast for over 50 years. Our legal expertise combined with a passion for serving accident victims have helped us obtain compensation for thousands of injured Georgians.