Page 31 - Georgia Drivers Manual 2020

Use Headlights Properly • Do not drive if you are tired. More frequent injury. Georgia has a “primary” safety belt law,
Use high-beam headlights only when driv- stops, more fresh air, lively radio programs meaning that officers may stop and cite violators
and other measures can help you to avoid without observing another violation.
ing in rural areas and when other cars are not drowsiness and inattention;
nearby. You must use your headlights between Safety Restraints for Children
one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour be- • Watch carefully for highway signs; they are
fore sunrise; at any time when it is raining; or harder to see at night; Every driver transporting a child who is
when visibility is limited. under eight years of age, except in a taxicab
• Watch carefully for pedestrians and for ve- or public transit vehicle, must properly re-
You should dim (lower) your headlights hicles stopped along the edge of the road; strain the child in a child pas­senger restrain-
when: ing system appropriate for the child’s height
• You are within 500 feet of an approaching • Do not stop on the roadway. and weight. The restraint system must com-
ply with the United States Department of
vehicle so as not to blind the driver; Safety Belts Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
• You are following closely (within 200 feet) Standard 213. Under limited circumstances,
Georgia law states that each occupant in the a child under eight may be exempt from this
behind another vehicle; front seat of a passenger vehicle traveling on requirement. For further information, contact
• You are driving on lighted roads; Georgia roads and highways must be secured the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety -
• You are driving in rain, fog, snow, or smoke; by a seat safety belt (lap and shoulder). All oc- http://www.gahighwaysafety.org.
• Your vision is reduced to less than 200 feet. cupants of any passenger vehicle must utilize
a seat safety belt if they are under the age of 18. Distracted Driving
Night Driving
Because of decreased vision at night and the Safety belts are needed because they are the Distracted driving is one of the fastest grow-
most effective occupant protection in all types of ing safety issues. According to the National
glare of oncoming headlights, night driving vehicle crashes. According to Crash Stats from Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHT-
presents its own unique challenges. Unfamiliar the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin- SA), 3,166 people were killed on U.S. roadways
roads and unexpected situations are more like- istration, seat belts saved 12,802 lives in 2014. in 2017 because of distracted drivers. Distracted
ly to cause hazardous driving conditions. You Georgia Department of Transportation reports driving is doing another activity while driving.
can help ensure safe driving in several ways. that the risk of fatality in a crash is reduced This takes the driver’s attention away from the
• Make sure your headlights are working by about 45% when seat belts are used. Using primary task of driving and increases the risk
safety belts correctly is a preventable health of crashing. Common distractions include but
properly and the lenses are kept clean. Pe­ care habit that: are not limited to talking on a cell phone, tex-
riodically have them checked for correct • helps you keep control of the vehicle; ting, reading, eating, grooming, using a navi-
aim/alignment; • helps keep your head from striking the dash gation device, and adjusting the stereo system.
• Don’t “overdrive” your headlights. When The presence of a passengers and pets can also
traveling at night or in other situations or windshield; increase crash risk. Georgia law requires driv-
that make the use of headlights necessary • helps keep people in the vehicle from hitting ers to exercise due care in operating a motor ve-
for safe travel, do not drive at a speed that hicle and prohibits any action that distracts the
requires a stopping time greater than the each other; driver from the safe operation of such vehicle.
distance illuminated by your headlights; • helps spread the crash force across the stron-
• Slow down when oncoming traffic is ap-
proaching or when you are nearing a curve; ger parts of the body;
• If visibility is greatly reduced, use the edge • helps protect you from injury;
line as a guide to maintaining your lane of • helps keep you from being ejected from the
travel. If there is no edge line, use the center
line to guide yourself; vehicle.
• Keep your windshield clean; When used correctly, safety belts are effective
at helping reduce the risk of death or serious

GEORGIA'S LITTER CONTROL LAW

Each year, municipal, county and state government agencies spend Whenever litter is thrown, deposited, or dropped from any motor
thousands of dol­lars to clean up litter from the streets and highways vehicle, the operator of the vehicle shall have violated the Litter Control
of Georgia. Individuals who litter cause harm to the beauty of the state Law. All Georgia law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce
and impact the health, welfare and safety of others. compliance of the Litter Control Law.

It is unlawful to dump, deposit, throw or leave litter on any public Georgia’s Litter Control Law classifies littering as damage to property.
or private property in the State of Georgia, or any waters in the State A conviction under this law is considered a misdemeanor in Georgia.
of Georgia. Persons convicted of this law may be assessed a fine up to $1000
• “Litter” means all sand, gravel, slag, brick bats, rubbish, waste and a 12 month jail term. In addition, if convicted of littering, a judge
could order the convicted person to pick up and remove litter from
material, tin cans, refuse, garbage, trash, dead animals or any designated area.
discarded materials of every kind and description;
• “Public or private property” means the right-of-way of any road
or highway, any body of water or watercourse of the shores
or beaches thereof, any park, playground, building refuge
or conservation or recreation area and residential or farm
properties, timberlands or forest.

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