Georgia’s beautiful roadways have always attracted enthusiastic motorists. Whether taking I-75 north out of Atlanta toward Chattahoochee National Forest or cruising down I-95 along the coast, drivers will find miles of road to enjoy.
Today, these roads stand much emptier than they did last spring. The temporary lockdown keeps the majority of residents safe inside with their families, but some thrill-seekers are taking advantage of the unusually open roads. Police are catching speeders every day — and at speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
A national issue
Georgia is hardly the only state to experience this drastic increase in speeders. All over the country, people are taking advantage of the open roads to push their vehicles to the limit:
- In Snellville, GA, an officer clocked a speeder traveling 103 mph past a city park, fire department and populated apartment building in broad daylight.
- Over Easter, a Sandy Springs police officer recorded a motorcycle traveling 173 mph on GA 400. The officer did not issue the driver a ticket — there was simply no way they could catch the biker.
- A study in Ohio revealed that although speeding citations dropped 93% since March 23, tickets issued for speeding violations of 100 mph or more have increased 53%.
- Several people have attempted the infamous Cannonball Run, a cross-country drive from New York to California, and reportedly broken the world record.
- Police charged the driver of a $750,000 Porsche with reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs when they wrecked multiple vehicles driving their sportscar through the deserted streets of Manhattan.
The dangers of speeding remain, however. Georgia Highway Patrol reports that crashes have dropped 30% from this time last year, but fatal crashes only 4%. With Georgia’s roads populated primarily with essential workers, like those delivering food and medicine to people in need, these reckless joyrides primarily endanger the workers who keep America running.
Practice proper road safety
Over 30% of all traffic fatalities involve a speeding vehicle; only driving while intoxicated presents a greater danger. Those involved in a car accident in Georgia have found success working with a local lawyer to assess a potential liability claim and take the legal action needed to secure due restitution.