Joy Peterson posted on June 30, 2010 13:14
- Beginning July 1, 2010 new Georgia Laws will take effect regarding texting while driving. The new law essentially prohibits any person from writing, sending or receiving text messages while driving; and prohibits the use of any cellular device by a person under the age of 18 while they are driving.
A 2009 study showed that a person texting while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. All who drive regularly have seen people texting while driving and the negative effects that it has on driving performance. Over the next several months, the Floyd County Police Department will be conducting an educational campaign to inform drivers of the changes to the law and the dangers of texting while driving. This educational campaign will include public speaking engagements, visits to local high schools, and traffic stops for the purpose of educating the texting driver.
Adults who are observed texting while driving will be stopped and, in the early stages of the effort to reduce texting-while-driving accidents, officers will most commonly issue warnings in an effort to educate drivers. During traffic stops in which it is determined that a driver under 18 was using a cell phone, officers will contact the parent of the driver to allow the parent an opportunity to take corrective measures to ensure their child is driving safely.
Any civic organization desiring an officer to speak to the group about the dangers of texting while driving can contact Sgt. John Blalock, Floyd County Police Department at 706-235-7766.
For more information on this and other police operations in Floyd County, please visit
www.romefloyd.com.