The Great Hang Up

Driving distracted can be deadly. We're launching a project aimed to help make our roads and your commute better and safer. We're dedicated to informing the people of Central Georgia of the dangers of distracted driving and we are inviting you to join the movement to put down the phone while driving. It's the Great Hang Up!
Distracted Drivers in Macon
13WMAZ spent time at some busy intersections in Macon to look at Central Georgia's distracted driving habits first-hand. Check out what we found.
Anti-Texting Law
13WMAZ talks to law enforcement officials about how -- and whether -- they can fight distracted driving.
Teens and Safe Driving
13WMAZ goes to a safe driving demonstration and watches teens negotiate a test course while using phones.
Other Driving Distractions
13WMAZ takes a look at other driving distractions: We also eat, play with the radio, MP3 player, Game Boy, and DVD player, fuss with the kids, and even do our nails.
Video
Stories

Great Hang Up: Teen Driving Commission

7:59 PM, Mar 26, 2013

Last fall, Governor Nathan Deal created a teen driving commission to advise state legislators and agencies on ways to keep people's eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Great Hang Up: Enhancing Driver Education

8:51 PM, Feb 26, 2013

A group of teens from around the state wants to build up education programs for young drivers.

Great Hang Up: Bans On Hand-Held Phone Use

12:51 AM, Jan 30, 2013

Less than three years after banning texting while driving, some Georgia lawmakers want to take all hand-held phones off the roads.

Handheld Cell Phone Ban Proposed for Ga. Drivers

4:06 PM, Jan 27, 2013

A Decatur state representative is trying again this year to ban drivers from using hand-held phones.

Nearly 1,300 Drivers Convicted of Texting in Ga.

10:05 AM, Oct 30, 2012

State records show that fewer than 50 drivers a month have been convicted of texting and driving in the two years since a law to ban texting went into effect.

The Great Hang Up: Which Campaigns Affect Teens Most?

3:59 PM, Sep 25, 2012

Billboards, online pledges, and videos all try to teach about distracted driving, yet each year over 10,000 drivers in the U.S. are injured or die due to distracted driving, according to the National Safety Council.

Gov. Deal Forming Advisory Panel of Teen Drivers

5:51 AM, Sep 11, 2012

The deadline for teen drivers to apply to serve on the commission is Sept. 20.

The Great Hang Up: Driving With Your Knee

5:26 PM, Aug 28, 2012

Some people say if they use their cell phone while driving, they prop their knee on their steering wheel and use their leg to keep the car steady.

Great Hang Up: Staying Safe Using a GPS

3:15 AM, Aug 1, 2012

Local law enforcement officers say they're worried about more than just cell phones distracting drivers.

The Great Hang Up: Texting and Driving Demo

7:17 PM, Jun 26, 2012

According to a AAA study, a driver will glance down at their cell phone for an average of five seconds at a time.

The Great Hang Up: Manual Transmissions

5:32 PM, May 29, 2012

Some people say cell phones and six-speeds just don't mix.

The Great Hang Up: Teens Still Text and Drive

11:33 PM, Apr 24, 2012

In a nationwide study, less than 50 percent of teen drivers said they have never sent a message on the road.

Many Teens Still Texting While Driving

11:09 PM, Apr 9, 2012

The survey, conducted for State Farm by Harris Interactive, finds that just 43% of drivers ages 16 and 17 say they've never texted while driving -- the same percentage as in the insurer's first survey in 2010.

The Great Hang Up: NHTSA Guidelines

6:51 PM, Mar 15, 2012

The federally proposed recommendations encourage car makers to ensure devices in vehicles are less likely to distract the driver.

The Great Hang Up: Ban for Commercial Drivers

7:23 PM, Feb 28, 2012

A recent law that took affect changed the way many truckers operate behind the wheel.

Gov't to Carmakers: Harness Dashboard Technology

11:52 AM, Feb 16, 2012

Carmakers should design potentially distracting dashboard technology so it's automatically disabled while the vehicle is in motion, federal safety officials said Thursday.

Does Technology Make Using Cell Phones Safer?

7:41 PM, Jan 31, 2012

There's no such thing as safe distracted driving said Lt. Wilton Collins with the Macon Police Department.

Texting on the Rise Despite State Bans

10:07 AM, Dec 9, 2011

About half of American drivers between 21 and 24 say they've
thumbed messages or emailed from the driver's seat.

THE GREAT HANG UP: Senior Drivers Guard Against Distractions

6:17 PM, Nov 29, 2011

AARP driving instructor John Abbott says texting and talking on the phone while driving is a major temptation for many people.

"Arrive Alive Tour" Uses Simulator to Teach Driving Dangers

6:35 PM, Oct 25, 2011

The "Arrive Alive Tour" is giving folks a chance to see the impact of distracted driving without feeling the deadly effects.

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