Fatal accidents have very specific causes that are based on a number of factors: weather, driver age and experience, vehicle type, time of day and many others. Not unlike other states, Georgia classifies the cause of accidents generally, to help provide information for public safety and help design programs to reduce accidents, especially fatalities. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, speeding ranks third highest among the causes of fatal crashes in 2020.
Fatal accidents fluctuated in Georgia during the ten-year period between 2011 and 2020, reaching its highest rate that year with 1,664. Speeding as a cause of a fatal accident increased more than any other factor related to crash type. Between 2019 and 2020, the number increased by more than 40%. More significantly, speeding ranked second only to alcohol-related fatalities, with only 22 fewer.
“Super Speeder Law” punishes excessive speed
An important law in Georgia attempts to combat and deter speeding on the public roads. Under the “Super Speeder Law,” a driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH on a two-lane road or at 85 MPH on a multiple-lane road will have $200 extra in state fees added onto their charges. This law applies to any vehicle operating on any public road within the state.
Safety on public roadways in Georgia requires a driver to maintain a safety-conscious attitude with minimal distractions. Speeding contributes to hundreds of fatalities each year, yet it remains the factor over which the driver has the most control. An attorney familiar with the laws and consequences of their violation can offer guidance.