Georgia Campaign Reminds Drivers of Back-to-School Driving Safety

Georgia Campaign Reminds Drivers of Back to School Driving Safety

Driving while intoxicated has always been the cause of many fatal car accidents, but there’s a new leader in dangerous driving scenarios – distracted driving. The “School’s Open, Drive Carefully” campaign reminds drivers to stay alert and aware of their surroundings.

Although alcohol used to be a prominent threat for fatal car accidents, distracted driving has taken the lead as a threat for safety around vehicles. With the school year coming up, AAA, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division, Columbia County schools and local law enforcement have all teamed up for the annual “School’s Open, Drive Carefully,” campaign.

Georgia Department of Public Safety Senior Officer Matt Kelly said that one of the most important things to ensure safety around automobiles is for drivers to stay alert.

“What’s hurting and killing people is no longer speed and alcohol; it’s distracted driving,” Kelly said. “Somebody holding that telephone behind the wheel is more of a threat than speed and alcohol combined.”

Garrett Townsend, the AAA director of public affairs, said that slowing down, eliminating distractions and being mindful of bicycles on the road are all great ways to reduce the risk of accidents.

According to Penny Jackson, the associate superintendent, more than 200 buses are on the road at various times of day in the Columbia County school district, meaning that there are many children entering and exiting the vehicles throughout the morning and afternoon.

“Stay motivated as a driver,” Kelly said. “It’s your responsibility once you sit in that driver’s seat to stay in your lane, obey the speed limit and operate (your vehicle) safely at all times.”

More information on school bus and pedestrian safety for students, motorists, parents and bus drivers is available at http://www.gadoe.org/Finance-and-Business-Operations/Pupil-Transportation/Pages/School-Bus-Safety.aspx

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • California School District Modernizes Surveillance System

    i-PRO Co., Ltd. (formerly Panasonic Security), a provider of professional security solutions for surveillance and public safety, recently announced that the Murietta Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) in Riverside County, CA, has undertaken a project to modernize its first-generation surveillance system to new high-resolution i-PRO network cameras, and the i-PRO Video Insight video management system (VMS). Read Now

  • RAD Makes History with First Robotic Dog Deployed to Taylor Police Department

    Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), a subsidiary of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., recently announced that it has delivered a RADDOG LE to the Taylor, Michigan Police Department. The delivery of RADDOG LE to the Taylor Police Department marks a historic moment in the integration of technology within law enforcement. This milestone underscores RAD’s commitment to revolutionizing the landscape of security and public safety through cutting-edge AI-powered, robotic solutions. Read Now

  • Passing the Test

    The discussion about secured access and access control for higher education and K-12 is continuously expanding and evolving. That is a good thing. The more knowledge we gain and the more solutions that become available, linked and interoperable, the better and higher the level of security and safety. Read Now

  • Driving a Major Shift

    One of the driving forces for change has been the high demand for unified solutions. Users are asking their vendors for a way to manage all their security systems through a single interface, from a single pane. This has led to a flurry of software development to seamlessly integrate access control systems with video surveillance, intrusion detection, visitor management, health monitoring, analytics with artificial intelligence (AI), and more. Read Now

Webinars