On Monday, April 6, an intoxicated woman drove her car to the end of the Frank Downing Fishing Pier in Montgomery, Georgia, nearly hitting two fishermen, and was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence. 

Her identity was not shared with the public. The Chatham County Police Department shared its advice to other Georgia drivers regarding vehicle safety, which includes younger drivers like students here at GCSU.

“This could have had tragic consequences. Please do not drive if you are impaired in any way,” their statement said.

According to Georgia Highway Safety, 27% of fatal accidents occurring across the state in 2023 were a result of driving under the influence.

Due to the fact that accidents like these still occur across Georgia, the importance of driver safety is highly valued by students like LillyAnn Hancock and Haylee Rainer, who have both been involved in dangerous vehicular accidents.

Haylee Rainer, a sophomore psychology major, elaborated in detail on the account of her car accident in 2023. She shared that she was headed to an appointment and had to make a left-hand turn across a busy road in McDonough, Georgia. 

“I looked both ways and saw no cars,” Rainer said. “A car came out of nowhere and hit the back of my car.” 

Rainer continued that her vehicle spun into the opposite lane facing oncoming traffic, and the offender’s car crashed into the woods on the side of the road. The collision totaled both cars, and Rainer walked away unharmed.

While the situation was harmful to both parties, the fault was placed mostly on Rainer. 

“Because I was technically occupying his lane, the fault was mostly mine,” Rainer said. 

She claimed that she saw him speed up behind her, yet that information wasn’t legally applicable to the situation. She added the fact that there were “no marks on the road to indicate that he tried to hit the brakes.“

After the incident, Rainer shared that the next few months were quite traumatic for her.  It took Rainer multiple months before she was confident to drive again. 

“The next time we drove through the square … I just broke down and I would flinch every time my parents would make a left-hand turn,” Rainer said.

In order to prevent accidents like these from occurring for students, Rainer shared a piece of advice. 

“Be aware of your surroundings,” Rainer advised. “Nothing is more important than safety when you’re driving.”

LillyAnn Hancock, a freshman middle grades education major, also shared a harrowing driving experience from her past. The accident happened at the intersection outside of her hometown mall in Athens, Georgia.

Hancock was riding with her mother and sister when a car ran a red light and hit the left front side of her mother’s car. She believed that the sun may have inhibited the offender from seeing the light change. However, the motive was unclear. 

“The sun was setting, but it was pretty clear,” Hancock said. 

She elaborated that her mother was proficient in defensive driving during the accident, steering the car to a less impactful angle.  

“It could’ve been a lot worse, but my mom turned because she could see the car coming,” Hancock said.

Students say that a vital aspect of the realm of drivers is the local community and the willingness to help in dangerous situations. Hancock shared her thoughts about the impact that fellow drivers had on her with their help after the wreck. 

“A lot of people stopped and helped us move the car,” Hancock said. 

Hancock also emphasized the impact that being involved in a car wreck can have on a person. Similar to Rainer, she claimed she was shaken up, and it was difficult to move on from the incident for a while. 

“I was scared to ride in the car again,” Hancock said. 

While these events were traumatic for both Rainer and Hancock, they also learned about the importance of driver safety and shared their advice for student drivers.

“Not only just be aware of your driving, but also of other people’s driving,” Hancock said, emphasizing that knowing one’s own driving skills might not be enough to ensure safety.

Students can find updates regarding the recent arrest at their preferred Georgia-based news outlet, as well as more information on driver safety at www.gahighwaysafety.org.