Drivers in Georgia generally need to abide by state traffic laws to maintain their licenses. Those who break traffic laws could receive citations from police officers or end up financially liable for any collision they cause.
One of the most basic and also the most frequently broken traffic laws relates to posted speed limits. Drivers should not travel at speeds faster than the posted limit. Generally, those traveling too fast who cause car crashes will end up deemed responsible for those collisions. Individuals who speed can also face enforcement efforts and citations from police officers.
People can end up accused of driving too fast even when in compliance with the posted speed limit on a specific road. As the winter months approach and temperatures drop, Georgia drivers should be aware of how traffic laws change when the weather is bad.
The posted speed limit does not always apply
The speed limit on a specific stretch of road is not always the most important rule. Instead, Georgia law requires that drivers change their habits to reflect road conditions. When there is snow or ice on the road, best practices include reducing your speed and leaving a larger following distance between the car in front of you and your front bumper.
Drivers who fail to properly adjust their driving habits could face citations from police officers or could end up declared responsible for a car crash even though they were compliant with the posted speed limit and the standard traffic rules that apply on Georgia roads.
You can hold other drivers accountable for bad choices
State law gives you the opportunity to take legal or financial action against those who make unsafe choices. If a driver hits you because they lose control while driving too fast for the weather conditions, you can potentially file an insurance claim against their policy.
When drivers don’t have insurance or cause catastrophic losses for others, they might also face civil liability for their choices. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit could result when someone doesn’t slow down or otherwise adjust their driving habits for extreme winter weather. Understanding what increases your chance of a car crash can help you reach your destination safely any season of the year.
