All the details on how law enforcement keeps the county safe
Roads can be very dangerous.
But by being careful, you can greatly decrease your risk of getting hurt in a car accident, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Captain Frank Copeland said.
“Whenever you have a crash, call and report it,” he said.
Of Gilmer County’s 1,786 car accidents last year, 568 resulted in injuries and 14 resulted in death, Copeland said.
In the last several decades, car technology has advanced greatly. In some ways, this fact makes cars safer. But it also makes drivers overconfident, and repairs are far more expensive.
“There’s so many electronic devices on vehicles,” Copeland said. “It’s a very costly thing.”
Most of the car accidents in Gilmer County happen because someone got distracted or because someone sped, he said.
Often, people distract themselves by looking at cell phones. But this is far from the only distraction issue. Drivers can also get distracted with phone calls, conversations and more.
“Distracted driving is equivalent to drunk driving, in terms of its effect on a person’s driving,” Copeland said.
A short glimpse away from the road doesn’t seem like a big deal. But at 70 miles an hour, you can cover 34 yards in less than a second.
“You’re going to travel a significant distance in five seconds,” Copeland said. “Anything can happen.”
Another major reason for car crashes is people driving too fast, Copeland said.
Reaction time is safety.
Gilmer roads often twist and turn, have unexpected driveways or dips that obscure vision. Driving too quickly means that eventually, you’ll get surprised before you can react.
“There’s no overstressing how big a factor speed is,” Copeland said. “The faster you’re going, you have to be able to react faster.”
In addition, it’s a common event for drivers to hit animals crossing the roads. During winter, deer are particularly active, Copeland said.
If you see one deer, there are usually others.
“Keep an eye out for them,” he said. “But you can’t win them all. I’ve struck a deer in one of my patrol cars.”
If you’re in a car accident or see a car accident, you should call 911.
Then, you should get somewhere safe if possible. There’s no reason to leave your car in a busy intersection, around a blind turn, or anywhere else that could potentially lead to another accident.
“If you can move your vehicle, and it’s a minor wreck with no injuries or death, if it’s drivable, you should move it out of the roadway,” Copeland said.
The most important thing to do when responding to an accident is to be safe, Copeland said. If you get hurt while trying to help someone else, it just makes the situation worse.
You shouldn’t leave the scene, Copeland said. Depending on the circumstances, hitting and running is a misdemeanor or felony.
If someone flees the scene, you should try to get their license plate or a description of the car, he said.
Preparing in advance for accidents can help, Copeland said. If you have a first aid kit or dashcam, it can save a lot of trouble.
After they receive a 911 call, emergency services and the GCSO will respond to the accident.
GCSO generally responds to all accidents in the county and secures the scene, Copeland said.
In situations with added complexity, the GCSO will let Georgia State Patrol (GSP) handle the incident.
“Injuries, property damage and overturned vehicles, we’re definitely calling State Patrol to those,” he said. “That’s an extremely complex crash scene.”
Often, people can be angry and act unpredictably in accidents. But it’s best to have self-control and settle issues like these in court.
“Don’t get in a fight or an argument with the people you’ve had a wreck with,” Copeland said. “Let the officers do their investigation.”