There is plenty of traffic congestion in and around Atlanta. Avoiding this and other drawbacks of driving by taking public transportation, walking or biking around the city can save people time and money. And these options are more environmentally friendly.
That all said, people choosing these alternative forms of transportation face some serious risks to their safety. Unfortunately, the number of accidents between cars and pedestrians or bicyclists has increased dramatically in recent years. Between 2006 and 2015, there was a 53 percent increase in these accidents. Below are some reasons why this is happening and what we can do to keep everyone safer.
Distracted drivers
Distracted driving is a very real problem. You don’t have to search too long before you find a driver staring down at a phone or cruising through traffic with both hands off the wheel, texting. Distraction can also affect pedestrians and cyclists who may not be watching where they are going.
The simplest way to avoid these accidents is to put away distractions and focus on driving, walking or cycling.
Dangerous streets
As this article notes, Atlanta streets can be dangerous by design. Rather than accommodating all types of traffic, many roads are designed with the sole focus of keeping cars moving as quickly as possible.
There is no easy fix for this problem. Officials have long tried to find solutions (and funding) that would provide bike lanes, wider sidewalks and other design elements, but many have failed to come to fruition. As such, cyclists and pedestrians should choose their routes wisely. If a road seems dangerous to navigate alongside cars, consider a different path.
Crowded commutes
With so many people commuting to, through and out of Atlanta, congestion is a problem. People get frustrated and anxious; traffic jams lead to fender benders; people attempt risky maneuvers to try and minimize delays. These can all create unsafe conditions for everyone on the road.
Again, there is no easy solution to this problem. To stay safe in these situations, commuters in all modes of transportation should calm down, try to stay patient and avoid reckless decisions that put themselves and others in danger.
