Spring is the perfect time in Georgia to get outside and soak up the sunshine! With flowers blooming and days growing longer, more people are out walking, biking, and enjoying everything the season has to offer.
April 2nd marked National Walk Safely Day, and the entire month is dedicated to raising awareness about Distracted Driving. It’s a great reminder that safety should always come first, whether you're out for a walk in the fresh air or behind the wheel.
As more folks take to the sidewalks, trails, and streets, it’s crucial to stay alert and look out for one another. Drivers, keep your eyes up and your phones down—especially around pedestrians and cyclists. And walkers, enjoy every step, but stay aware of your surroundings.
Let’s all do our part to keep the season safe and fun for everyone. Check out these helpful tips on how to walk smart and drive distraction-free!
Check your walking route. How far are you going? What time of day are you traveling? See whether there are street lights, sidewalks, or transit services in case you need a pick-up during your trip.
Pay attention to where you’re walking. Limit looking at your phone, and don’t use noise-cancelling headphones so that you can listen for traffic, including cars, cyclists, scooters, and other pedestrians.
If no sidewalk is present, walk as close to the outside edge of the roadway, far from active traffic, as practicable, and walk against traffic. This means you are facing oncoming traffic, which makes you more visible.
Don’t “jaywalk” or cross the street outside crosswalks and intersections. Using a designated crosswalk is predictable behavior that keeps you safe and visible to motorists.
If you’re walking at night, stay visible by carrying a flashlight or wearing high-vis clothing. Always be aware of your surroundings when walking at night.
Share the path responsibly and yield to other pedestrians, especially on a recreational trail or paved multi-use path. Walk single file on narrow trails and sidewalks.
When you get in the car and get on the road, it’s crucial that you stay attentive. In the U.S., distracted driving claimed 3,257 lives in 2023 (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration/NHTSA). In Georgia, there were 57,015 reported cases of distracted driving, according to the Department of Driver Services. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including phone use (talking, texting, using your digital assistant, etc.), eating and drinking, talking with passengers, and fiddling with your entertainment/navigation system. Anything that takes your attention away from the road and intentional, safe driving is considered a distraction.
According to NHTSA, texting is the most serious distraction: sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
You need your full attention to drive safely. Non-driving activities put you at greater risk of crashing, which not only puts your life at risk, but also risks the lives of passengers and all other road users. Here are some tips on how to stay safe and limit distractions when driving.
Utilize “do not disturb” or a notification silence function that can be active while you drive. If you need your phone for navigation, some apps have a feature that allows you to stay alert, limiting your ability to fiddle with settings or receive notifications while driving. Not only will this keep you and others safe, but this is the law. The Hands-Free Georgia Act (O.C.G.A. §40-6-241) requires drivers (any age, any license type) to refrain from physically holding or supporting a wireless telecommunications device for any reason while operating a vehicle. If you have a passenger in the car and you have an urgent message or call that needs to go out, ask them to use your phone.
Limit changing the settings on your entertainment or navigation system (radio, GPS, etc.) while you’re driving by setting up your playlist/audiobook/radio station or directions before you get on the road. If you’re getting lost and need to change routes, or maybe you want to listen to something else, pull into a parking space or rest stop.
Having passengers in your car may be essential in your daily commute, and it can be great to have some company along with you for the ride. Don’t hesitate to remind your passengers that you’re driving and you need to focus, so perhaps some conversation might need to wait until you’ve come to a stop or have exited the vehicle. Talking to someone in your car can be just as distracting as talking on the phone.
If you’re a passenger in a car, speak up if you feel the driver is distracted by using their phone or doing something else that could endanger both of you. Prevent distractions by helping them operate the radio, GPS, or temperature control. Help out by watching for signage, landmarks, and traffic.
