Drowsy Driving

Marijuana Use and Drugged Driving

February 10, 2020 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

damaged crash barrier at the roadside Across the country, more and more states are legalizing marijuana every year in response to our changing attitude toward the drug. While the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Georgia, it’s important to remember that marijuana, just like alcohol, can cause impairment when someone gets behind the wheel. Driving while high can lead to serious car accidents that can result in severe injuries to innocent people.

Georgia DUI Laws

Like every other state, it is illegal in Georgia to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. For alcohol, anyone who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08 may be charged with DUI. Because there is currently no way to measure the content of marijuana in the blood, any presence of any amount of marijuana in the blood is sufficient to charge someone with DUI.

Car Accident Fatalities Are on the Rise in Georgia

February 7, 2020 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

traffic safety barrel in street Despite our efforts to make our roads safer, the unfortunate reality is that the number of car accident fatalities is trending upward. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has compiled statistics for the years 2009 through 2018, demonstrating an overall increase over the 10 year period. This is alarming for anyone traveling on our highways and underlines the potential hazards that most of us face every day.

State-wide Car Accident Fatalities

The number of accidents across the state of Georgia has increased during the 2009-2018 time period. There is some fluctuation, but the overall trend is upward.

Asleep at the Wheel: What You Need to Know About Drowsy Driving

January 23, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Time-lapse photo of street at night showing streaks of headlights and taillights Falling asleep behind the wheel is obviously dangerous – nodding off for just a moment can result in a catastrophic car accident. Unfortunately, simply driving while drowsy presents a bigger danger than you may think. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 795 people were killed in car accidents that involved drowsy driver in 2017 alone. In a recent study, AAA reported that approximately one third of drivers admit to driving while almost unable to keep their eyes open within the last 30 days. It is estimated that drowsy driving contributes to around 90,000 crashes per year, although precise numbers are extremely difficult to pin down.

Why Drowsy Driving is a Problem

Even if you don’t fall asleep, driving while drowsy can affect your ability to drive safely. Studies have show that drowsiness can affect your driving in the following ways: