How to Report Dangerous Drivers in Georgia

One way to keep everyone safe is to report dangerous drivers. But how do you go about doing this? It begins with recognizing what unsafe driving looks like, and then taking concrete steps to report or prevent it.

If you witness dangerous driving, call 911 and report it. If you were injured by someone driving dangerously, after calling 911, call The Dixon Firm injury lawyers. We can review your case, explain what sorts of damages may be available, and then get to work advocating for the justice you deserve.

Dangerous driving behavior is not always as dramatic as a high-speed chase. There are somewhat less obvious forms of it. Recognizing what dangerous driving looks like is the first step to reporting and stopping it. 

Such driving may include, but isn’t limited to:

• Weaving across traffic lanes: Crossing multiple lanes at once is extremely dangerous. Drivers should only change one lane at a time, and not before checking mirrors and blind spots.
• Speeding: Going way too fast is certainly one of the more overt hazardous driving behaviors. but it’s not limited to driving over the posted speed limit. Driving too fast for the conditions (e.g., heavy thunderstorms) also endangers others.
• Texting while driving: It is illegal to text while driving under Georgia law. This is a major form of distracted driving and is responsible for numerous accidents, some of which are fatal.
• Other distractions: There are plenty of other ways to distract a driver. If you see a driver not paying attention because of loud music, unruly passengers, or some other distraction, you should report that individual.
• Drunk and drugged driving: It’s also against the law to drink and drive, or to drive under the influence of drugs (whether legal or not). You can often tell a driver is impaired by the way they drift in and out of lanes and drive erratically.
• Driving the wrong way on one-way streets: One would think that this is an easy hazard to avoid. Sadly, many drivers simply do not see or understand the signs warning them not to enter the wrong way on a road or highway.
• Running red lights and stop signs: These traffic law violations are clear signs of negligence and immediately put other people in harm’s way. If you see someone running red lights and stop signs, report it.
• Throwing things at pedestrians or other cars: Throwing things at others is not only dangerous for the intended targets, but also for others around the moving vehicle. It distracts the driver and takes their focus away from the road.

Drivers don’t necessarily have to be driving to create dangerous conditions. How often have you seen kids or pets left alone in a hot car, with no one in sight to see that they are okay or to help them if they are in distress? If you know that someone needs help or is at risk of injury or death, you have a responsibility to report it.

The primary way to report hazardous drivers is to call 911. The 911 operator will ask you for details about the driving, so be ready to tell them the following information:

• A description of the behavior that you think is dangerous
• A description of the driver’s vehicle, including noticeable damage or unusual features
• A description of the driver (their physical characteristics)
• The vehicle’s license plate and the state that issued it
• Any information that may help the police find the vehicle, like the location where you saw it, the direction it was traveling, and the exact time you saw it

If you’re reporting a child or animal in distress inside a vehicle, stay at the location until help arrives.

Some of the above examples include what may be characterized as aggressive driving. Georgia has an aggressive driving statute that specifically applies to anyone who drives “with the intent to annoy, harass, molest, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person.” The following may qualify as aggressive driving:

• Deliberately trying to provoke a road rage incident
• Deliberately trying to cause another driver to crash or run off the road
• Brake-checking, the act of pulling in front of someone and then slamming on the brakes
• Cutting off other drivers
• Excessive speeding
• Attempting to intimidate other drivers or pedestrians
• Throwing objects at others

If you see this behavior, it’s important that you notify law enforcement. Someone could get seriously injured or killed, and the offending driver is likely to continue such behavior if they are not apprehended. Call 911 and report the incident right away.

You may be concerned that if you report another driver, they will find out about it and seek retribution. However, you can ask the 911 operator or law enforcement officer to keep your information confidential.

One thing that we do not recommend is doing something that will put you or others at risk of further danger. To that end, we suggest the following:

• Pull over to a safe place when you call 911
• Do not follow the offending driver or attempt to stop them on your own
• Make a note of anything you observe, since law enforcement or prosecutors may at least ask that you serve as a witness against the driver later

Once you report the driver, the appropriate law enforcement agency will be dispatched to the approximate location to locate and stop them. Provide whatever information you can to assist the officer, if you are called upon to provide it, and ask for confidentiality if that is your preference.

If your family member can no longer safely drive their vehicle, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will determine whether they have diminished driving capacity. DDS will evaluate the driver and decide whether they have the mental and physical abilities needed to safely operate a vehicle.

This is obviously a slower, more complicated process than simply calling 911. So do not forgo calling emergency services if you observe a driver in the process of unsafe driving. But the DDS diminished driving reporting program can help ensure that those who are no longer able to safely drive are kept from doing so.

Driver evaluations can be requested by someone who has personal knowledge about the driver’s mental or physical fitness. Typically, these requests are made by:

• Doctors who treat the driver
• Law enforcement officers who have observed the driver’s behavior on the road
• Relatives of the driver

To request a driver review, you must fill out a form (available online), and either mail or fax it to DDS. The mailing address is: Georgia Department of Driver Services, c/o Medical Review Unit, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013. Faxes should be sent to: (770) 344-3629.

The form is simple and pretty short. You just have to:

• Identify the driver you think needs to be reviewed
• Note the mental, emotional, or physical condition that may be causing problems
• List any specific behavior that makes the driver dangerous

You do have to identify yourself, but you can request that your identity not be revealed to the driver in question. DDS pledges that they will honor confidentiality requests “to the fullest extent possible.”

It’s easy to assume that someone else who notices bad driving will call law enforcement. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. You may be able to prevent a serious or even deadly accident by reporting it, and thereby keep others – perhaps even yourself and your family – from an avoidable accident. We encourage you to be the reason that an unsafe driver is removed from Georgia roads and highways.

We hope that you are never involved in an accident, and that if someone is driving dangerously, a responsible citizen will step up to report it. Regardless, accidents happen anyway. The Dixon Firm is here to help you seek justice and compensation in the event you are ever a victim. If you’ve been in a crash, we suggest you do the following:

• Get out of the flow of traffic and call 911 to report the accident
• Ask for medical assistance or at least see a doctor soon after the crash (even if you think you were not injured)
• Ask the police who respond to the accident to give you a copy or a way to access the police report they generate
• Take pictures and record videos of the accident scene and your injuries
• If there were any witnesses to the wreck, get their names and contact information
• Write down identifying information about the driver (see the above section about the best way to report dangerous drivers)
• Call The Dixon Firm and speak to our attorneys

Let us handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Give our office a call or fill out our online contact form to get started today.