Atlanta Activist Champions Traffic Law Reform After Surviving Harrowing Crosswalk Accident

Atlanta, GA — Struck by a vehicle in a horrific crash that catapulted her 38 feet, Veronica Watts spent a substantial part of 2024 healing from a traumatic brain injury, a broken nose, and a spinal contusion. Her painful recovery has galvanized her into action against Georgia’s permissive traffic laws, which allowed the driver who hit her to escape with only a $250 fine and continued driving privileges.

On that unusually warm winter day, Watts attempted to cross North Avenue near a local supermarket at around 2 p.m. When she moved from the median after the first lane’s driver stopped, another driver in the adjacent lane hit her at full speed, leading to her severe injuries and a two-day unconscious state at Grady Hospital.

Watts’s ordeal is a stark marker of broader issues impacting pedestrian safety in Atlanta. With Georgia’s 5th Congressional District noted as the nation’s second-deadliest for pedestrians and cyclists by a 2024 Smart Growth America study, it highlights a critical need for infrastructure and legal reform.

The state’s traffic laws, as outlined by Judge Gary E. Jackson of the Municipal Court of Atlanta, do not compel most drivers involved in pedestrian crashes to appear in court. Instead, fines can often be settled online, depriving victims of a chance to be heard. This process bypasses a judicial review that could enforce more stringent consequences for reckless drivers.

Reform advocates, including Watts, are pushing for an overhaul of the Traffic Violations Bureau system. This would ensure more direct oversight and accountability for dangerous drivers by allowing prosecutors and judges to handle these offenses more rigorously.

Adding to the complexity of the situation is Atlanta’s inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. Despite voter approval in 2022 for a $147 million investment into 68 sidewalk projects aimed at improving walkability, the city has not completed any of these projects by 2025, according to Rebecca Serna, executive director of Propel ATL.

This lack of infrastructure not only makes walking and cycling more perilous but also discourages these healthy, environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Fear of vehicular accidents remains the primary deterrent for potential pedestrians and cyclists, underscoring the dire need for enhanced road safety measures.

Some inspiration for Georgia could perhaps be drawn from initiatives in Alachua County and Gainesville, Florida, where efforts aim to completely eliminate pedestrian fatalities. Technology such as traffic cameras, often debated for their privacy implications, are argued by some safety experts as essential tools for enforcing traffic laws and protecting pedestrians.

Watts insists that this is a bipartisan issue affecting all residents. By sharing her story, she hopes to drive legislative change that will prevent others from enduring similar, if not worse, fates. Such change, she believes, is overdue and essential for not only justice but for the safety and wellbeing of every Georgian.

Given the complexities and potential inaccuracies in documenting such ongoing legal and civic challenges, this account should be approached with caution. Information provided here can be updated or corrected upon request by contacting [email protected].