Distracted driving is not a problem unique to Georgia. Countries all around the world struggle to discourage drivers from allowing people, technology and features in the car itself from distracting them. When drivers take their eyes off the road to change the radio station, adjust the climate control or check their phone, the risk of causing a crash increases. This makes them a danger to not just themselves but also to others.
Technology is one of the main reasons drivers become distracted on the road. Many people have a hard time resisting the urge to respond when they get a message or a call comes in. So, it may strike some readers as ironic that CNN ran an article asking if technology could become the bandaid for distracted driving woes. It may sound silly, but there is a strong basis for the question.
In the article, an entrepreneur considered the effects Groove might have on distracted driving. Groove is a device that plugs into the car under the steering wheel and blocks distractions that come from the phone. It notifies the phone service provider that the driver is operating a vehicle and keeps phone calls, emails and social media updates at bay. While this does not address other distractions in the car, it is a good starting point.
Tech inventors are not the only ones trying to put an end to distracted driving. Fox8 Live reported this summer that Georgia police officers went undercover as construction workers to catch drivers who cannot seem to part ways with their phones while driving. The first offense carries a $50 fine and goes up to $150 by the third offense.
All these external factors play a role in the fight to keep drivers focused on the road. Ultimately, however, drivers must take responsibility for their own actions by practicing self-control and remaining alert.