Following a series of accidents involving county-owned vehicles, Habersham County on Tuesday unveiled a new campaign aimed at promoting safe driving.
The county is placing “How’s My Driving” stickers on all non-emergency county-owned vehicles. County Risk Manager Will Regan calls the sticker campaign a “proactive step” to reinforce the importance of responsible driving habits.
“By affixing these distinctive stickers on county-owned vehicles, the county sends a clear message: accountability matters and every driver on the road plays a part in ensuring safety.”
How it works
The program collects community feedback. Each sticker features a unique identification number and a dedicated phone number for people to call to report any concerning or unsafe driving behavior they observe.
According to Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore, Regan is personally placing the stickers on the vehicles.
“The stickers are going on all non-emergency vehicles, including department heads and mine. The process began last week, and only a few stickers remain to be placed on vehicles,” Moore tells Now Habersham.
County Manager Alicia Vaughn expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “We believe that responsible driving should be a top priority for every member of our community. The ‘How’s My Driving’ program not only holds our county employees accountable but also invites our residents to be part of the solution. Together, we can create a safer road environment for everyone.”
A news release from the county says the new program aligns with its “ongoing commitment to safety and accountability.”
A history of bad driving
Habersham has been plagued by a series of vehicle mishaps and accidents in recent years, including on June 2 of this year when a firefighter drove a fire truck into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. The crash totaled both vehicles. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
In October 2021, the Georgia State Patrol cited a Habersham County ambulance driver for following too closely after she wrecked on I-85 while transporting a patient to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Both incidents involved emergency vehicles, which Moore points out are not included in this program “due to the nature of their work.”
It is unclear whether any steps are being taken to promote driver safety within the county’s emergency departments. It also remains unclear what procedures will be followed if and when someone files a complaint about a county employee’s driving.
Regan is currently in training and could not be reached for comment.
There is a financial incentive for improving driver safety. County taxpayers’ costs for these and other accidents go beyond repair and replacement costs. Insurance premium hikes and potential lawsuits are also costly. The county hopes this new program will help mitigate those liabilities, even if it is limited in scope.
To report concerns or offer feedback on county vehicles displaying the “How’s My Driving” stickers, call the dedicated hotline at 1-800-737-6789.
