Georgia
Georgia ranks in top five states with most responsible drivers
IN OTHER NEWS – In a new study analyzing fatal road accident causes, Georgia ranks in the top five states with the most responsible drivers.
Release:
- Mississippi has been named the state with the most responsible drivers, according to a new study analyzing the causes of fatal road accidents
- Florida takes second place – while Nebraska, Georgia, and Tennessee round out the top five
- The findings follow a new analysis of traffic data reported by the NHTSA over a five-year period
A new study of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that Mississippi has the most responsible drivers in the US.
The research conducted by personal injury attorneys Injured in Florida analyzed road traffic accident data from 2017-2021 relating to four key scenarios, which have been recorded as contributing factors resulting in fatal accidents. The factors considered as displaying ‘irresponsibility’ on behalf of the driver are a distracted driver, a drowsy driver, speeding or hit-and-run.
These recorded events were compared to the number of fatal road accidents, which did not involve any of the factors, to find the states with the lowest rate of accidents attributed to irresponsibility and, therefore, the most responsible drivers.
Mississippi is the state with the most responsible drivers, according to the data. In the period studied, the state experienced a total of 3,167 fatal road accidents, but only 638 recorded one of the considered contributing factors. This accounts for only 20.15% of all accidents reported – the lowest in the US and less than half the US average of 44.82%.
According to the study, Florida has the second most responsible drivers in America, with 25.47% of fatal road accidents reported to have involved an identified contributing factor. This percentage equates to 3,907 out of a total of 15,342 fatal accidents in the state.
Nebraska has the third most responsible drivers, as identified by the study. Over the five-year period, the state experienced 1,032 fatal traffic accidents in total, and the number of recorded incidences of distracted drivers, drowsy drivers, speeding or hit-and-run remained low at 263, or 25.48% overall.
Fourth is Georgia, with 28.38% of fatal road accidents having been reported to have involved one of the four contributing factors. This equates to 2,104 out of 7,413 total fatal accidents in the state.
Rounding out the top five states with the most responsible drivers is Tennessee, as the state reported 1,521 fatal accidents over the five years analyzed. This accounts for 28.68% of the total 5,304 fatal accidents in the state.
The states with the most responsible drivers
Rank
State
Fatal Crashes Involving a Distracted Driver / Drowsy Driver / Speeding / Hit-and-Run
Not Involving a Contributing Factor
Total
Percentage of Fatal Crashes that Involving a Contributing Factor
1
Mississippi
638
2,529
3,167
20.15%
2
Florida
3,907
11,435
15,342
25.47%
3
Nebraska
263
769
1,032
25.48%
4
Georgia
2,104
5,309
7,413
28.38%
5
Tennessee
1,521
3,783
5,304
28.68%
6
Iowa
453
1,091
1,544
29.34%
7
Arkansas
831
1,833
2,664
31.19%
8
South Dakota
200
372
572
34.97%
9
Indiana
1,443
2,601
4,044
35.68%
10
Oklahoma
1,160
1,921
3,081
37.65%
In contrast, the data revealed that New Mexico is the state with the least responsible drivers, with the highest rate of fatal traffic accidents in the nation, involving one of the four identified contributing factors.
The study found that an overwhelming 84.62% of the 1,853 fatal road accidents in New Mexico involve either a distracted driver, drowsy driver, speeding or hit-and-run – this is almost twice the US average.
Following closely behind is Hawaii, which experienced 483 fatal car accidents over the five years. Of these, 387, or 80.12%, were recorded to have involved one of the four identified factors.
The study found Illinois rank with the third least responsible drivers as the percentage of fatal accidents caused by an ‘irresponsible’ contributing factor remained high at 60.47% – or 3,134 of 5,183 of total fatal accidents.
Washington follows with 58.90% or 1,578 out of 2,679, and Alaska takes the fifth spot, with 56.92% of the 318 fatal road accidents between 2017 and 2021 involving one of the four contributing factors analyzed in the study.
The states with the least responsible drivers
Rank
State
Fatal Crashes Involving a Distracted Driver / Drowsy Driver / Speeding / Hit-and-Run
Not Involving a Contributing Factor
Total
Percentage of Fatal Crashes that Involving a Contributing Factor
1
New Mexico
1,568
285
1,853
84.62%
2
Hawaii
387
96
483
80.12%
3
Illinois
3,134
2,049
5,183
60.47%
4
Washington
1,578
1,101
2,679
58.90%
5
Alaska
181
137
318
56.92%
6
Rhode Island
177
136
313
56.55%
7
Colorado
1,623
1,322
2,945
55.11%
8
Wyoming
293
248
541
54.16%
9
South Carolina
2,648
2,249
4,897
54.07%
10
Missouri
2,357
2,020
4,377
53.85%
A spokesperson for Injured in Florida commented on the findings:
“Some car accidents can be unavoidable; however, the study highlights that a number of scenarios contribute to road accidents that could be prevented. Drivers must remember that they have a responsibility to drive with care and full attention whilst adhering strictly to driving laws.
“When behind the wheel, drivers must ensure they are fully alert and aware of their surroundings, maintaining a legal and suitable speed for the road type to deter increasing the chances of an unfortunate accident to occur. This should be maintained at all times, including at night or when roads are quiet, when the risk that drivers become complacent may increase.”
ATHENS, Ga. – Designated hitter Daniel Jackson and centerfielder Rylan Lujo combined for nine RBI Sunday, leading fifth-ranked Georgia to a 12-1 win over LSU at Foley Field.
Georgia improved to 41-11 overall, 21-6 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 29-24 overall and 9-18 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday when they play host to Florida in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
“Georgia won the moments in this series,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They’re going to score, so you’ve got to capitalize against them when you have scoring opportunities on offense.”
Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki (8-0) was the winner, limiting LSU to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU right-hander Casan Evans (2-3), making his first appearance since April 17 versus Texas A&M, started the game Sunday and was charged with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“I thought Casan’s stuff looked great, and that’s good for him from a health standpoint,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that the more he pitches, the better he is, so there might have been a little bit of rust, but I thought he competed fine.”
Georgia struck for four runs in the bottom of the second inning in an outburst highlighted by Jackson’s two-out, two-run single and an RBI single by second baseman Ryan Black.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the third when designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. delivered an RBI single.
Georgia extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth as Jackson launched a two-run homer and centerfielder Lujo lined a run-scoring single.
Lujo unloaded a grand slam in the fifth, giving the Bulldogs an 11-1 advantage.
The Georgia baseball team had long since poured out of the Foley Field home dugout and the water bottles that were thrown on the field in jubilation had been cleaned up.
The Bulldogs celebration that carried into center field after a 13-8 victory on Saturday night over LSU on May 9 had ended and players had doused coach Wes Johnson with blue sports drink.
Now, some 20 minutes later, it was postgame photo time for the freshly minted 2026 SEC regular season champions.
They gathered in front of the spot on the right field wall where the previous seven seasons of Georgia SEC championships were listed, the last in 2008. Above them on the video board was a graphic that recognized this year’s team as SEC champions.
“Watching the program grow in such a shot amount of time, it’s awesome,” said pitcher Paul Farley, who has been with the Bulldogs for all three seasons with Johnson and got the win in relief Saturday. “We’ve got four SEC games left and to be able to hang that up there the SEC champs already it’s amazing.”
Farley was speaking figuratively because the 2026 numbers weren’t on the outfield fence just yet.
Fifth-ranked Georgia (40-11, 20-6 SEC) still has a chance to put a College World Series trip up there in left field for the first time since 2008 and in a best case scenario add another national championship year in right field with the 1990 season.
“SEC champs is great, but obviously we want to do bigger and better things,” Farley said.
LSU, the team that won it all last season, was still around having a postgame talk on the artificial turf field long after the game ended.
Johnson was with LSU in 2023 as pitching coach when it won another College World Series.
“It’s massive,” Johnson said of this latest championship. “Anytime you can win this league, man, it’s so hard. Then win it outright. It’s something you want to check off on your list of things you’ve ever accomplished. It’s 10 weekends of just meat house grinding.”
Johnson said he didn’t know that the dominoes had fallen Saturday to set up Georgia being able to clinch except that he saw that Texas lost at Tennessee as the result flashed on the scoreboard.
Texas A&M also lost twice at Ole Miss to set up the clinch for Georgia.
“I’m calling pitches, I’m locked in,” Johnson said.
He said assistant coach Will Coggin told him when the game ended that ‘We’re champs.’”
Many of the players knew.
“We had a few inside operatives, I’d say, tell us,” Farley said.
Shortstop Kolby Branch said he didn’t know “until the water bottles started flying.”
Branch said another Georgia team loaded with transfers grew closer in the fall and built relationships that have turned into wins this season.
Johnson said winning the regular season title in his third season as coach in the age of the transfer portal and NIL “means a lot.”
Johnson mentioned Farley, Branch and Tre Phelps being at Georgia for all three of his seasons.
“Seeing where we were in the first fall, we forget this used to be dirt and grass,” Johnson said standing on on turf field. “And we didn’t have the cool building and we only had one batting cage, all the stuff we’ve been able to do since we’ve been here. The other side is just understanding true belief and understanding what guys can do.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Georgia Tech softball (30-27, 10-14 ACC) collected its second postseason conference honor as first baseman Addison Leschber was named to the 2026 ACC All-Tournament Team, as was announced by the conference following the 2026 ACC Softball Championship game on Saturday.
Leschber is Tech softball’s first All-Tournament honoree since Emma Kauf during the 2023 season. During the First Round of the ACC Championships, Leschber was nothing short of exceptional as she went 2-for-4 with one home run, one double, and five RBI. Leschber’s first-inning home run brought her to 13 home runs this season, the third most of any Yellow Jacket this season. In Tech’s fourth meeting of the season with Notre Dame, Leschber saw her 12th multi-RBI game and ninth multi-hit game of the season. The senior finished the season with 26 runs, 37 hits, seven doubles, 13 home runs, 42 RBI, and 83 total bases.
2026 ACC Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Jessica Oakland, Duke
Addison Leschber, Georgia Tech
Bri Despines, Louisville
Madison Pickens, Louisville
Bree Carrico, Virginia Tech
Michelle Chatfield, Virginia Tech
Emma Mazzarone, Virginia Tech
Jasyoni Beachum, Florida State
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State
Jazzy Francik, Florida State (MVP)
Isa Torres, Florida State
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets will await their fate in the NCAA Tournament Selection show on Sunday, May 10, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech softball team, follow us on Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook, Instagram (@GaTechsoftball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
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