A Georgia state lawmaker says traffic fatalities, crashes and related insurance claims are down statewide following a new hands-free law.
As of Sep. 30, fatalities from traffic crashes in Georgia are down 11 percent year to date, which represents the largest decrease of Georgia’s traffic fatalities in 10 years. Year to date, there have been 128 fewer fatalities in 2018 over 2017.
According to Georgia State Patrol figures for statewide data, traffic crashes were down in the months following the July 1, 2018 implementation of the hands-free driving law. Traffic crashes in July and August were down 2.5 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively, over the same periods in 2017. Preliminary data for September 2018 showed an even greater decrease in crashes.
“The Hands-Free Georgia Act was all about saving lives, and I believe that’s exactly what it is doing,” state Rep. John Carson, R-Marietta, said in a news release. “I sincerely hope these life-saving trends continue for the benefit and safety of all Georgians and their families.”
In addition, recent data on the Georgia private passenger auto insurance market suggests insurance claims have decreased for the first time in years. Quarterly insurance claims decreased in both frequency and severity in the third and fourth quarters of 2017.
State lawmakers took action after some municipalities such as Smyrna passed their own ordinances.