Legislation signed into law today by Governor Sonny Perdue will slap excessive speeders on Georgia’s roads and highways with hefty fines. Money collected is aimed at injecting the state’s ailing trauma system with badly-needed funds.
Starting July 1st, drivers who go 20 miles an hour over the speed limit on Georgia roads will be hit with an extra $200 fine. The Governor’s office says a quarter of the more than 1,600 people who die every year from traffic accidents in the state, are caused by excessive speeds.
But that’s less than half the money the appointed state trauma commission had to work with last year. Ben Hinson is president of Mid-Georgia Ambulance in Macon, and a commission member:
The Governor says he will again look to present a permanent funding model for a statewide trauma network in next year’s budget. Trauma officials estimate $80-million is needed to properly fund a statewide network--at least.
Starting July 1st, drivers who go 20 miles an hour over the speed limit on Georgia roads will be hit with an extra $200 fine. The Governor’s office says a quarter of the more than 1,600 people who die every year from traffic accidents in the state, are caused by excessive speeds.
“We hope it will slow down people, where we don't have to issue tickets for speeding excessively.”Governor Perdue wants to spend money collected from the fines on trauma care. It’s estimated the state’s fastest drivers could bring-in $23-million.
But that’s less than half the money the appointed state trauma commission had to work with last year. Ben Hinson is president of Mid-Georgia Ambulance in Macon, and a commission member:
“This is not enough...I don't know if could ever get enough to do everything we want. And if the trauma commission ever says that's enough, you've probably got the wrong members on the commission. We want it to get better every day."Getting better includes getting emergency trauma service to pockets of the state severely neglected, especially in areas of rural north and south Georgia.
The Governor says he will again look to present a permanent funding model for a statewide trauma network in next year’s budget. Trauma officials estimate $80-million is needed to properly fund a statewide network--at least.
