At this exact moment, many people throughout Georgia are packing their bags, loading their trunks, and filling up their tanks in preparation for a Memorial Day road trip. Statistics show, however, that they won't be alone in looking to getaway. According to AAA, as many as 39.3 million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles from Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29, the highest number of travelers in 12 years. Furthermore, AAA is projecting that 88 percent of people will be making their way to their respective destinations by car. Closer to home, AAA is projecting that 1.17 million residents of Georgia will be traveling over Memorial Day with as many as 1.05 million going by car. While rising wages, lower fuel prices, and increased consumer confidence are likely the reasons why so many people are hitting the road, travelers might want to consider a recent study by the personal financial…

Cycling is a great way to be eco-friendly and burn some calories. Georgia recognizes bicycles as vehicles under the law. As a cyclist, you have the same rights to public streets and roads that cars and trucks do. This also means that you must abide by the same traffic laws that motorists do. When you are out on the road, you need to drive defensively and pay attention to the other motorists to prevent accidents. Make sure you know the laws and safety rules for riding bicycles in Georgia: Stay off the sidewalk. Only riders under the age of 12 are allowed to ride on a sidewalk. Motorists must give cyclists a three-foot buffer between their vehicle and the bicycle when passing. Cyclists have the right of way in bike lanes, but not every motorist is aware of this. Make turns carefully. Always signal your intentions and try to catch the…

A study released at this time last year by researchers at Johns Hopkins University raised some very real concerns about patient safety. To recap, the study, published in The BMJ, found that over 250,000 deaths per year can be attributed to medical errors, making it the third-highest cause of death in the U.S. While there has since been some debate as to whether this is indeed the case, there is no denying that medical errors are a very real concern that must be taken seriously by both physicians and patients alike. Indeed, questions naturally arise as to what patients can do to protect themselves. The good news is that there are some relatively simple steps patients can take in almost any scenario to help prevent falling victim to medical errors. By way of example, consider the always nerve-wracking reality of a patient learning they will need to undergo a surgical procedure.…

Thanks to Georgia's temperate climate, many people can and do make a motorcycle their primary mode of transportation on a year-round basis. There are a considerable number of motorcyclists, however, who choose to leave their bikes parked in the garage until spring rolls around, unwilling to deal with cooler temperatures, cold rain, and even frost. Given this reality, the number of motorcycles out on the roads and highways has undoubtedly increased in recent weeks and will likely only get higher over the coming months. Indeed, in recognition of the increased ridership that accompanies warmer weather, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dubbed May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. As part of this initiative, the Georgia Department of Driver Services is now urging all motorists to be aware of the increased presence of motorcyclists and for all parties to share the road. "Mutual responsibility is the safety message we are sharing with all…

Whether we realize it or not, most of us follow a routine every time we get behind the wheel of our vehicles and move the shifter from park to drive. For example, many of us will check the mirrors, adjust the seat, set the climate, sync electronic devices and, of course, buckle seat belts. Indeed, it would appear that the majority of us are now making seat belt use part of our routines, as a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that close to 90 percent of drivers were buckling up in 2016. This is a welcome development when you consider that federal statistics also reveal that seat belts saved the lives of nearly 14,000 people in 2015 alone. Questions have been raised, however, as to whether primary seat belt laws -- otherwise known as "click it or ticket" laws -- are the reason for this encouraging…