In the state of Georgia, the government has set many traffic laws, many of which pertain to traffic signals, to keep its citizens safe. All residence and those traveling through our state are expected to understand and obey all traffic laws in order to keep one another safe. Unfortunately, each year, dozens of accidents occur due to individuals failure to obey traffic signals.
Statistics show that intersection collisions account for nearly 8,000 traffic fatalities and 700,000 injuries each year. These negligent individuals must be punished for their actions with both traffic penalties and in the court of law. Of course, we can do our best to avoid traffic signal accidents by being defensive drivers, maintaining full attention of the road, and abiding by all Georgia traffic signals.
Common Types of Traffic Signs
Drivers failing to follow traffic signs have led to numerous automobile accidents though out Georgia and the rest of the United States. Individuals who understand traffic signage are put at advantage to avoiding potential accidents. It is important to understand the different forms of signs and how they are used to guide individuals.
- Regulatory Signs – regulatory signs are put in place to provide regulation on our roadways and protect individuals from accidents. Some of these signs include; yield signs, parking signs, stop signs, speed limit signs, and movement signs.
- Warning Signs – warning signs serve to designate specific areas of road travel. They are typically yellow or orange with black writing. Some of these signs include; no passing zones, school zones, railroad crossing, animal crossing, road construction, and pedestrian crossing.
- Guide Signs – guide signs help guide drivers in the direction of food, lodging, gas, rest areas and such. These signs are typically green, blue or brown in color.
- Traffic Lights – traffic lights serve to direct the flow of traffic and keep our roads as safe as possible. The basic forms of traffic lights include progressive lights, traffic activated lights, timed lights, and pedestrian activated lights. These lights typically consist of the colors green, yellow and red.
Being able to determine and differentiate between these different types of signs will increase the safety of our roadways by reducing the number of accidents that occur. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a defensive driver, there are several certified driver improvement schools throughout the state.
Types of Penalties for Neglecting Traffic Signs
Penalties for neglecting to pay attention to traffic signals in Georgia can greatly vary, as there are several different forms of signals. If however you have received a traffic penalty, the citation will provide the information needed to pay or contest the ticket. These tickets are handled by each individual county and set in place by each court system.
As the state of Georgia tracks incompetent drivers by using a point system, these points can add up and result in a suspended, cancelled, or revoked license. Once an individual has accumulated 15 points the state of Georgia will suspend that individual’s license.
The following includes possible points for disobeying traffic signals:
- Reckless driving – four points
- Disobeying traffic control device – three points
- Moving violations – three points
- Aggressive driving – six points
If an individual has had their license suspended, they may be required to complete a defensive driver course, which is approved by the Department of Driver Services. These individuals will also need to pay a reinstatement fee totaling $210. Of course, these classes are also available to individuals who would like to increase their driving knowledge and reduce their chance of being involved in an accident.