Georgia

Georgia ranks in top five states with most responsible drivers

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

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.”

Source link

Click to comment

Georgia

Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia

A quiet stretch of the Georgia coast is back in the national spotlight.

In a recent feature, Southern Living highlighted the Golden Isles as one of the South’s most serene escapes, praising the region’s undeveloped marshes, barrier islands and slower pace compared to other East Coast beach destinations.

Located roughly halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, the Golden Isles include Brunswick, Sea Island, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Little St. Simons Island.

Here’s what to know.

What makes Georgia’s Golden Isles different?

Unlike more densely developed beach towns in neighboring states, Georgia’s coastline is defined by tidal creeks, salt marshes and wide stretches of protected land.

“The coast of Georgia is quite different than the shores of North Carolina or South Carolina,” Southern Living wrote. “It’s wilder and quieter, and it’s much less populated with beach towns.”

While the islands offer modern resorts and vacation homes, much of the natural character remains intact.

One of the most photographed spots is Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, known for its haunting remains of a maritime forest scattered along the shoreline.

Where are visitors staying?

The publication pointed to several well-known properties across the islands:

The Cloister at Sea Island
Jekyll Island Club Resort
St. Simons Island: The Grey Owl Inn and the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Little St. Simons Island, accessible only by boat, was highlighted for its all-inclusive lodge and thousands of acres of protected marshland and upland habitat.

What can you do in the Golden Isles?

Southern Living emphasized simple, immersive experiences:

Biking under live oaks
Kayaking through marsh creeks
Horseback riding along the beach
Watching sunsets over the water.

Public beaches like East Beach on St. Simons Island remain open to visitors, while golf courses on Jekyll Island and St. Simons offer year-round play.

The region’s history also plays a major role. Visitors can climb the St. Simons Lighthouse, explore historic districts in Brunswick or learn about Gullah Geechee heritage through local organizations.

For more information, visit southernliving.com/georgias-golden-isles-11906085.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.

Source link

Georgia

Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering $2B in Georgia tax relief

Published

14 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering B in Georgia tax relief

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp on Tuesday signed HB 973, the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The amended budget includes $2 billion in income and property tax relief, alongside investments in education, public safety, mental health, transportation and rural development.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones praised Gov. Kemp, saying the budget…

“Makes critical investments in middle-class families, mental health services, healthcare workforce development, transportation and Georgia’s veterans community.”

Key allocations in the amended budget include:

Education and Workforce Development: $325 million to endow the DREAMS Scholarship, a new needs-based scholarship program; $6 million for a Career Navigator tool; and funding for new and expanded programs at University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia institutions.
Public Safety: $150 million for Department of Corrections bed space, $9.7 million for additional corrections officers, $15 million for a new K-9 training facility, and $50 million to help communities address homelessness, including among veterans.
Mental Health: $409 million to design and construct a new Georgia Regional Hospital to expand mental health bed capacity.
Transportation: More than $1.6 billion to extend and expand I-75 express lanes in Henry County; $185 million for SR 316 interchange conversions; $100 million for rural bridge rehabilitation and replacement; and $250 million for local maintenance and improvement grants.
Rural Georgia: $15 million for rural site development grants; $35 million for a new natural gas infrastructure program; and $8.9 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative.

Governor Kemp says the state’s conservative budgeting approach has allowed Georgia to provide tax relief while making “generational investments.”

Source link

Georgia

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’

MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — Middle Georgia Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has issued a statement regarding the U.S. and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran over the weekend.

According to other WGXA articles, based on reports as of early March 2026, the United States and Israel have launched major, coordinated military operations against Iran, labeled in reports as “Operation Epic Fury” and “Operation Midnight Hammer”. This follows months of failed nuclear negotiations and escalating regional tensions.

RELATED | Hegseth insists US-Israel strikes on Iran are ‘not Iraq, not endless’

WGXA asked Middle Georgia DSA, the largest activist organization in Middle Georgia, for their opinions on the strikes, and they responded with this:

The strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal act of aggression. The Iranian people do not deserve to live in fear of American bombs and of the instability of regime change. Americans do not want our tax dollars and the lives of our people to be wasted on opening up a new war in the Middle East, or on bombing girls’ elementary schools. We want relief from the affordability crisis. We want peace. Middle Georgia DSA unequivocally condemns these attacks and any politicians who cannot do the same. We do not want this, we do not deserve this.

DSA added that they are not currently planning any protests at this time, and that they “remain focused on improving the conditions of people who live within our communities directly, and do not feel a protest is the best strategy to deliver on that.”

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’, March 2, 2026 (Image is meant to say 2026 instead of 2025, Courtesy of GCSU Mutual Aid)

However, GCSU Mutual Aid, a grassroots, community-led initiative focused on collective care and resource sharing within the Milledgeville and broader Middle Georgia area. While not an official department of Georgia College & State University (GCSU), it frequently operates in coordination with student-led groups and local residents to address gaps in traditional social safety nets.

RELATED | GCSU encourages peaceful expression ahead of national ICE walkout

GCSU Mutual Aid is planning a protest for Wednesday, where they will be “Marching for Democracy” in retaliation to recent events in the U.S.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Stick with WGXA as we keep you ready for what’s next.

Source link