Drivers know to stop at a stop sign, go when the light turns green, and carefully follow the speed limits posted throughout the state of Georgia. But, there are a number of traffic laws that many drivers are completely unaware of—which means they could cause a car accident or be pulled over for breaking a law they didn’t know existed. Here are some of the traffic laws many Georgia drivers aren’t familiar with:
1) The “Slowpoke Law”
If you’re traveling in the left lane of a highway or interstate in Georgia, you must get out of the way by switching lanes if a faster car comes up behind you. This law applies to all drivers—even though who are going the speed limit while in the left lane.
2) It’s illegal to drive with headphones in both ears.
Drivers must be able to hear sirens and honks from police cars, ambulances, and other drivers on the road. Because of this, it is illegal to wear headphones (including earbuds) in both ears, as this will severely limit your ability to hear these sounds. However, it’s only illegal if you are wearing both headphones, so drivers are free to put one headphone on and keep the other ear open.
3) Your headlights must be turned on in the rain.
Many of the vehicles on the road today are designed with lights that automatically turn on. However, you can’t rely on these lights when it’s raining because they only activate your front lights– you are not visible to drivers behind you. Drivers must manually turn on their headlights in the rain to avoid a traffic ticket from Georgia law enforcement officers.
4) You can’t text while behind the wheel.
In Georgia, all texting while driving is illegal. The state law does not specifically say that the vehicle has to be in motion, which means drivers can be issued a ticket if they are caught texting at any time behind the wheel, even if the car is at a complete stop.
5) Law enforcement officers must be able to clearly read your tag.
Drivers are allowed to put frames around their license plates, but only if they do not interfere with a law enforcement officer’s ability to clearly read the tag. If a police officer cannot view your entire tag, you may be issued a citation in the state of Georgia.
Drivers who aren’t aware of these laws put others on the road at risk, which is why it’s important to make sure you are familiar with all of the state’s traffic laws before getting behind the wheel.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, you will need the legal expertise of Georgia personal injury attorney Frank Harris. Mr. Harris previously worked as an attorney for insurance companies, so he knows how to negotiate and reach a settlement with these companies. Contact Frank Harris today by visiting www.FrankHarrisLaw.com or calling 678-483-8655 to schedule a consultation regarding your case. You can also send an email regarding your case to info@FrankHarrisLaw.com.