Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see drivers in the Atlanta area engaged in distracting behaviors when they should have their entire focus on the road. Here at Garland, Samuel & Loeb we know that distracted driving is a problem in Fulton County and recognize the role it plays in both serious and deadly car accidents.
A major cause of distracted driving is the use of a cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. Although it is legal for drivers 18 and older to use a handheld cell phone while driving, it is against the law for all drivers to text while operating motor vehicles in Georgia. This ban applies to reading, writing or sending a text while driving.
It is interesting to note that although texting and driving is banned, there is no law currently in Georgia against using a cell phone to place phone calls while driving. This is despite the fact that about a third of participants in a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that they felt that talking on the phone while driving was very unsafe. Most participants said they felt that taking their eyes off the road for two seconds or more made driving more dangerous, a period of time that it could take to look at your phone to answer or place a call. Despite this perceived safety risk, a majority of those surveyed said they answer phone calls while driving.
Although it is legal for a majority of adult drivers to talk on a handheld cellphone in Georgia, those who choose to do so should understand the possible negative consequences. For more information on this subject, please visit our distracted driving page.
