Columbia County had over 2,500 traffic accidents in 2019 (the most recent year with full statistics). About half of these car accidents happened in Evans, GA, and the roads running between Evans and Grovetown.
But the good news is that car accidents in Evans mostly arise from preventable causes. By adjusting your driving habits, you can reduce the risk that you will suffer a serious injury or death in a traffic accident in the Evans area.
Here are some Evans car accident statistics and insight into how you can use them to protect yourself out on the roads.
Accidents in Evans, GA
Evans has over 1,000 traffic accidents every year. Of these, about five will result in at least one fatality. Another dozen will result in at least one serious injury. A few hundred will cause minor injuries.
Some of the most common causes of accidents in Evans include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted drivers cause the majority of car accidents in Evans. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety estimates 64% of car accidents in Evans resulted from distracted driving.
Police officers in Georgia have the power to enforce distracted driving laws regardless of whether you get into a car accident.
Under Georgia’s hands-free law, an officer can cite you for driving while:
- Texting or typing
- Reading
- Holding a phone
- Watching video
- Recording video
Additionally, officers have the discretion to cite you for anything else that can distract you, including:
Manual Distractions
A manual distraction includes any activity that takes your hands away from the task of driving. Some examples of manual distractions include:
- Eating
- Drinking
- Putting on makeup
- Adjusting the car audio system
These distractions prevent you from making emergency maneuvers or cause you to drift into other vehicles.
Visual Distractions
Visual distractions cause you to take your eyes off the road. Some examples of visual distractions include:
- Reading or typing
- Watching videos
- Searching for a lost or dropped object
At a modest 35 miles per hour, your car will travel over 50 feet during a distraction of only one second. This translates into a span of over three car lengths per second for the average passenger vehicle.
Cognitive Distractions
Cognitive distractions take your mind off of driving. Examples of cognitive distractions include:
- Talking
- Daydreaming
- Fatigued driving
- Reading a map
The dangers of cognitive distractions often go underappreciated. Most people assume that they can drive as long as they can use their hands and eyes. But a cognitive distraction can significantly slow down your reaction time to emergencies.
Intoxicated Driving
Intoxicated drivers cause about half of the fatal accidents every year in Evans. In 2019, this meant that three people lost their lives to drunk driving accidents.
In most cases, getting into a crash while intoxicated can result in a criminal conviction as well as substantial civil liability. In Georgia, a judge can sentence a drunk driver to anywhere from one to 15 years in prison for a vehicular homicide resulting from DUI.
The family of the accident victim can also sue the drunk driver for a substantial amount of money in a wrongful death case.
Speeding
About 20% of fatal accidents in Georgia result from speeding. Across the state, speeding is responsible for about one-third of all accidents, including those that cause injuries and property damage.
Speeding substantially reduces your opportunity to avoid an accident. Stopping distance includes the time it takes to react to an emergency and bring your vehicle to a stop. Speeding increases the distance for both.
Driver Age as a Factor in Accidents in Evans, GA
As you might expect, younger drivers have the highest accident rate in Evans. Drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 years old get into 35.2 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.
But as life expectancies have increased, more drivers have continued to drive into their 70s and 80s. This increase in older drivers has also pushed up the accident rate of older drivers.
Drivers over 65 years of age now have the second-highest fatal crash rate of all age groups. In Evans, drivers over 85 now get into accidents at a higher rate than drivers under 21.
Motorcycle Accidents in Evans, GA
Motorcycles account for 2% of all registered vehicles in Georgia and 1% of traffic accidents. But motorcyclist fatalities account for 21% of all motor vehicle deaths in Georgia. This means that motorcyclists are over 20 times more likely to die in an accident than other motorists.
Evans sees anywhere between one and three motorcycle fatalities every year. In 2019, 20% of the traffic fatalities in Evans were motorcyclists.
Georgia is one of the few states in the deep South with a universal helmet law. According to Georgia’s official estimates, the helmet law saved 91 motorcyclists’ lives in 2019.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Evans, GA
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Evans account for two to three traffic deaths every year. According to statewide statistics, these accidents typically happen on roadways, rather than at intersections. The majority of these accidents happen during nighttime hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The age group most commonly injured or killed in bicycle accidents is 15-20 years old. However, the age group that is most often injured or killed in pedestrian accidents is 55-64 years old.
Seat Belt Use in Evans, GA
Evans motor vehicle occupants tend to wear their seat belts. In fact, roughly 96% of drivers and passengers wear their seat belts across the state.
Seat belt use has undoubtedly saved lives. In Evans, 75% of those killed in pickup truck crashes were not wearing a seat belt at the time of their accidents.
According to national statistics, wearing a seat belt improves your chances of surviving a traffic accident by as much as 50%.
Using Evans Car Accident Statistics
You can draw some pretty clear conclusions from the car accident statistics in Evans. You can reduce your chance of an accident by watching your speed, avoiding distractions, and driving sober. If you ride a motorcycle, exercise extra caution and wear a helmet.
When you drive at night, take extra care to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists. As you age, keep an open mind about giving up your keys.
With a few adjustments in your driving habits, you can reduce the risk of a severe or even deadly accident.
Contact An Experienced Car Crash Lawyer in Evans, GA At Hawk Law Group For More Information
If you’ve been in a car accident in Evans, GA, you don’t have to face the consequences alone. Contact Hawk Law Group to schedule a free consultation with our skilled legal professionals.
