Worst Drivers: Where Georgia Ranks On National List

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta area drivers face gridlock every day on metro highways, but that doesn't seem to have brought out the worst in commuters, who mostly remember their manners. Many states have worse drivers than Georgia; the sad honor for the worst drivers among all 50 states and the District of Columbia goes to Montana, according to a new report released by CarInsuranceComparison.com, an auto insurance website.

The website used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its survey and noted that the National Centers for Disease Control ranked the U.S. 19th among nations with similar income when it comes to destructive driving. The survey ranked states based on fatality rates, "failure to obey" laws for things such as seatbelt use and having a valid license, careless driving, drunken driving, and speeding.

Georgia finished 39th in the worst-drivers rankings, safer than the majority of the states. The worst category for Peach State drivers was careless driving, where the state ranked 11th.

The worst drivers in 2017, according to the survey, were in Montana, followed by Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada and South Carolina to round out the top six slots. Neighboring Florida is deemed relatively safe, ranking in the middle of the pack at No. 23, and adjacent Alabama fared poorly, ranked No. 11.

On the other end of the spectrum, the survey says the best drivers are in Iowa, then Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia, and Ohio.

Do you agree or disagree with the ranking of the state's drivers? How about our neighbors?

Texting and phone use are leading causes of distracted driving, say transportation experts. All Georgia drivers under 18 years old years old are banned from cell phone use, according to DMV.org. School bus drivers cannot use a cell phone while loading and unloading passengers, nor while the bus is in motion.

All drivers, regardless of age, are banned from texting while behind the wheel in Georgia. If you're over age 18, you can talk on the phone on a hand-held or hands-free device while driving.

All distractions endanger drivers, passengers and pedestrians, state officials say. Most distractions involve cognitive and sensory distraction. When you make a call on a hand-held phone you are not only holding and looking at the phone, you are also dialing, listening and thinking about the conversation.

Driver distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

And here's how the state defines aggressive driving, so you know what NOT to do.

When one of these actions contributes to an accident, Maryland law enforcement classifies that as aggressive driving: failed to yield right of way; failed to obey a stop sign; failed to obey a traffic signal; failed to obey other traffic control; failed to keep right of center; failed to stop for school bus; wrong way on one way; exceeded speed limit; too fast for conditions; followed too closely; improper lane change; improper passing; failure to obey traffic signs, signals, or officer; disregarded other road markings; other improper action; or operated motor vehicle in erratic/reckless manner.

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