Port Wentworth cracking down on unsafe Georgia truckers at busy intersections
The Savannah Morning News reports authorities are citing truckers for running down the berm of Georgia 21 near I-95 in an effort to avoid rush-hour congestion.
Our Georgia trucking accident lawyers remind motorists that December is a dangerous time for commercial truck accidents in Atlanta, Savannah and throughout Georgia. Heavy holiday traffic, speeding, drunk driving, bad weather and truckers who are hurrying home for the holidays can all contribute to serious or fatal Georgia semi accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Georgia is among the five states with the most fatal trucking accidents. More than 160 motorists were killed in accidents involving semis and other large commercial trucks in 2008.
Law enforcement can't be counted on to catch every offender. Even the Morning News reports driving down the emergency lane on I-95 to exit Ga. 21 likely won't meet with the same scorn. Port Wentworth police say the issue is a safety concern on Ga. 21 while those using the emergency lane on I-95 are just trying to get out of the way of the flow of traffic.
Regardless, passing vehicles on the right is never safe. Motorists are not expecting vehicles to be approaching on the right side. Pulling into the path of an 80,000 pound tractor-trailer, no matter how slow it is traveling, is a recipe for disaster.
As we reported in October on our Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, it is the same intersection where a tractor-trailer accident killed the 41-year-old driver of a small pickup. Investigators say traffic congestion contributed to the accident after the semi crested the hill at 65 mph and found traffic at a dead stop.
Officers say the intersection has been growing more congested for years as the result of population increases in west Chatham cities and Effingham County.
There is talk of building a deceleration lane. In the meantime, it is a case of motorists beware at that intersection and many others throughout Georgia this holiday season. During one recent Port Wentworth police operation, four tractor-trailers were stopped in about two hours. Each was seen by police illegally using the emergency lane to bypass traffic on Georgia 21.
"Those trucks are heavy and we've seen it - they can cause a lot of damage," Capt. Matt Libby said. "I've gotten several complaints about people getting tickets, but we're still going to be out there."
If you are involved in a Georgia trucking accident, contact the Atlanta truck accident lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (800) 228-9159 or at (404) 658-9070 or contact us through this website.
