SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M C F A D DEN and RA

Y, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

October 29, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 40 9 . YOUNG v . GRIFFIN.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

Aft er a m o t o rcy cl e ri d den b y Eu g en e Yo un g co l l i d ed wi t h a t ru ck d ri v e n by

J am es Lam o nt e G ri ffi n

, Y o un g s u ed Gri ffi n fo r p ers o nal i n ju ry

. A ju ry fo un d Yo u n g

t o b e 5 1 percen t n eg li g en t an d Gri ffi n 4 9 p ercen t n e g l i gen t i n co n n ect io n wi t h t h e

co l l i s i o n

, an d th e tri al co u rt en t ered a ju d gm en t i n Gri ffi n’ s fav o r. On ap p eal

, Yo u n g

arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i n ad eq u at el y res p o n d ed t o i m p ro per cl os i n g arg u m en t s o f

Gri ffi n ’ s co u n s el

, bu t e v e n as s u m i n g t h e arg u m en t s were i m pro p er t h ey d i d n o t in

reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y ch an g e th e res u l t o f t h e t ri al

. Yo u n g al s o arg u es t hat t h e t ri al

c o u r t g a v e t h ree ju ry ch arg es t h at were n o t s u p p ort ed by t he ev i d en ce, b u t t h e

ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed t wo o f t he ch arg es an d t h e t h i rd was n o t rev ers i b l e erro r.

Acco rd in g ly , we affi rm

.1

. Tr i a l evi den ce.

Yo u ng t es t i fi ed at tri al th at

, o n J u n e 1 9

, 2 0 1 0

, h e was ri d i ng h i s m o t o rcy cl e

s o u t h b o u n d t o ward a rai l ro ad cro s s in g

, t rav el i n g at 2 5 m i l es p er ho u r. As h e “ g ot

ri gh t at t h e t rack ” t h e cro s s in g l i g h t s fl as h ed an d h e h eard a trai n

. He t h en s aw

Gri ffi n ’ s t ru ck b l o ck i n g h i s l an e o n t h e ot h er s i d e o f t h e cro s s i n g

. He sl am m ed o n h i s

b rak es b u t was u n ab l e to s t o p an d h i t t h e t ru ck

. H e was i n ju red i n t h e co l l i s io n

. In h i s

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f Yo u n g

, Gri ffi n ’ s co u ns el in tro d u ced int o ev i d en ce p h o t o g rap h s

s h o wi n g t h e s k i d m ark s l eft b y t h e m o to rcy cl e.

Gri ffi n tes t ifi ed t h at he was d ri v i n g no rt h bo u nd t o ward t he rai l ro ad cro s s i n g

wh en t h e cro s s in g l i g h ts b eg an t o fl as h an d t he cro ss in g arm beg an t o d es cen d

. Th ere

was n o o n co m i ng traffi c bet ween h i m an d t he cro s s i n g at t h a t t i m e, an d h e d i d n ot

ex p ect an y v eh i cl es t o cro s s t he t rack s as t h e arm w as d es cen di n g

. Gri ffi n deci d ed to

m ak e a U-t u rn t o av o i d wai t i n g o n t h e t rai n

. Th e t u rn t o o k h im “ a few seco n d s .” As

h e h ad al m o s t co m

p l et ed t h e t urn wi t h h i s t ru ck b l oc k i n g t h e s o u t hb o u n d l an e, h e

h eard an d fel t t h e i m

p act o f Yo u n g ’ s m o t o rcy cl e. He h ad n ot s een or h eard Yo u n g

b efo re t h at p o i n t . Th e fo rce o f t h e i m p act d am ag ed t h e fram e o f Gri ffi n ’ s t ru ck

.

T h e d r i ver o f a v eh icl e t h at was b eh i n d Gri ffi n’ s t ru ck at t h e t i m e o f t h e

co l l i s i o n t es t i fi ed t h at t h e cro s si n g l i g ht s b eg an fl as h i n g an d t h e cro s s i n g arm b eg an

2d es cen di n g b efo re G ri ffi n st art ed t h e U-t u rn

. Th e d ri v er d i d n ot s ee an y o n c o m i n g

t r affi c w h en Gri ffi n s t art ed t h e t u rn

, an d h e d i d n o t s ee o r h ear Yo un g b efo re t h e

co l l i s i o n o ccu rred

. T h e p as s en g er i n t h at v eh i cl e al s o t es t i fi ed t h at th e cro s s i n g arm

b eg an d es cen d i n g b efo re Gri ffi n s t art ed h i s U-t u rn

, an d t h at at t h at p oi n t s h e h ad n ot

s een an y o n co m i ng t raffi c. Sh e d i d n o t s ee wh ere Y ou n g w a s w h e n t h e g at e b eg an

d es cen di n g

. Sh e h ear d t h e i m p act o f t h e co l l i si o n

, wh i ch o ccu rred as Gri ffi n was

co m p l et i n g t h e U-t u rn

.

Th e p o l ice o ffi cer w h o res p o n d ed t o an d i n ves t i g at ed t h e acci d en t t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e sp eed l i m i t o n t h at s eg m en t o f ro ad was 3 5 m i l es p er h o u r. He tes t i fi ed t h at b o th

Gri ffi n an d t h e d ri v er o f t he v eh i cl e b eh i n d Gri ffi n ’ s t ru ck t o l d h i m at t h e s cen e t h at

Yo u n g h ad cro s s ed th e rai l ro ad t rack s as t h e arm was d es cen d i n g

. He d et erm i n ed t h at

Gri f f i n a n d Y o u n g b ot h were at fau l t fo r t h e co l li s i o n

. (Th e tri al co urt al l o wed t h e

o ffi cer t o g i v e t h is o p i n io n ov er Yo u n g ’ s o b ject i o n ; Yo u n g h as no t ch al l en g ed t h at

ru l i n g o n ap p eal

. )

2

. Imp r o p er cl o si n g a r gu men t s

.

Yo u ng as s ert s t h at Gri ffi n ’ s co u n s el m ad e i m p ro p er arg u m en ts d uri n g cl o s i n g

an d t h at t h e t ri al co urt s h o u l d h av e ei t her reb u k ed co u n sel an d g i v en a cu rat i v e ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n o r g ran t ed Yo u n g a m i s t ri al

. Bu t Yo u n g d i d n o t ob ject co n tem

p o ran eo u s l y

3t o o n e o f t h e al l eg ed l y i m p ro per arg u m en t s

, an d h e d i d n o t o b t ai n fro m th e t ri al co u rt

a ru li n g ei t h er s u st ai n in g o r o verru l i n g h i s o bject i o n t o t h e o th er of th e al l eg ed l y

i m p ro p er arg u m en t s

. Co n seq u e n t l y, o u r ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h i s i s s u e i s l i m i t ed to

“ wh et h er t h e i m

p ro p er arg u m en t [s ] i n reas o n ab l e p ro ba bil i t y ch an g ed t h e res u l t o f t h e

t ri al .” S t o l t e v. Fa g a n

, 2 9 1 Ga. 4 7 7

, 4 8 3 (2 ) (b ) (7 3 1 SE2 d 6 5 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Ap p l y i n g th i s st an d ard

, we fi n d t h at Y o u ng h as n o t s h own rev ers i b l e erro r.

Gri ffi n ’ s co u n sel arg u ed i n cl o si n g t h at t h e sk i d m ark ev i d en ce co n t rad i ct ed

Yo u n g ’s t e s t i m o n y t h at h e d i d n o t s ee t h e fl as h i n g l i g ht s un t i l he h ad reach ed t h e

rai l ro ad track s

. Gri ffi n ’ s co u n sel s t at ed :

Th ere i s s o m et h i n g cal l ed p ercep t i o n t i m e an d r e a c t i o n t i m e. I

t al k ed ab o u t i t y es terd ay an d

, i n fact

, I b el i ev e, i f I’ m n o t m i s tak en

,

[Yo u n g ’ s co u n s el ] t al k ed ab o u t i t i n hi s o p e n i n g s t at em en t

. I t h in k he

ev en u s ed t h e f

i g u r e o f t wo o r t w o an d a h al f s eco nd s fo r p ercep t i o n

t i m e an d react io n t i m e an d t h at ’ s p ro b ab ly ab o ut ri gh t

, t h e t i m e i t t ak es

t h e h u m an b o d y

t o p ercei v e a p ro b lem an d t h en react t o i t

.

An d t h e reas o n t h at i s s i g n ifi can t

, Lad i es an d Gen t l em en

, i s i f th e

s k i d m ark s s t art o n t h e no rt h ern b o un d ary o f t h e rai l ro ad track s an d Mr.

Yo u ng i s g o in g so u t h

, t h at m e an s h e p ercei v ed an i s s ue at t h e rai l ro ad

t rack s b ack u p t h e ro ad w h en h e was n o rt h of t h e rai l ro ad t rack s

. T he

s k i d m ark s s t art h ere ([i ] n d i cat i n g ). Th at m ean s h e p ercei v ed s o m et h i n g

wh en h e was u p h ere ([i ] n d i cat i n g ).

4Gri ffi n’ s co u n s el t hen cal cu l at e d t h e n u m b e r of feet a p ers o n d ri v i n g 2 5 m i l es p er

h o u r wo u l d t rav el in a s eco n d an d arg u ed : “ If we g o wi t h wh at [Yo u n g ’s c o u n s el ]

s ai d y es t erd ay , t wo an d a h al f s eco n d s fo r p ercep t i on an d react i o n . . . .”

At t h at p o in t, Y o un g ’ s co u n sel o b j e c t e d

, s t at i n g th at Gri ffi n ’ s co u ns el was

“ m i s s tat i n g bo t h wh at I s ai d an d t h e ev i d en ce. I nev er s ai d t h ere w as a react i o n t i m e

o f t wo an d a h al f s eco n d s

. W h at we s ai d was i t to ok [Gri ffi n ] t w o s e c o n ds t o m ak e

h i s U-t u rn .” In t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce, b ot h si d es d eb at ed ex act l y wh at Yo u n g ’ s co u n s el

h ad s ai d d u ri n g h i s o p en i n g s t at em en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h en s ai d: “ Si n ce t h i s h as b een

b ro u gh t u p , I wi l l h av e t o l eav e i t t o t h e ju ry t o rem em b er w hat w as s ai d d u ri n g t h e

co u rs e o f t he t ri al

. Go ah ead , [Gri ffi n ’ s co u n s el ] .”

Gri ffi n ’ s co u n s el p ro ceed ed t o arg u e th at

, co n s id eri n g a “ p ercep t i o n an d

react i o n t i m e” o f two an d a h al f s eco n d s an d a s p eed o f 2 5 m i l e s p er ho u r, t h e s k id

m ark ev id en ce i n di cat ed t h at Yo u n g “ wo u l d h av e b een 9 0 feet n ort h o f t h e rai l ro ad

t rack s at t h e t i m e h e s aw s o m et h i n g t h at cau s ed h i m t o p u t on hi s b rak es .” Yo u n g ’ s

co u ns el m ad e n o fu rt her o bject i o n du ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t

, b ut o nce t h e ju ry ret i red

h e m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al b as ed o n t h e al leg ed l y i m p ro p er arg u m e n t s. Th e t ri al co u rt

rev i ewed t h e t ran s cri p t o f Yo u n g ’ s o p en i ng s t at em en t an d d en i ed t he m o t i o n

.

5Yo u ng arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s res p o ns e was i ns u ffi ci en t

. See OCGA § 9

-

1 0 -1 85 (i m

p o s i n g d u t y

o n t ri al co u rt t o i n terp o s e an d p rev en t co un s el fro m m ak i n g

s t at em en t s o f p reju d i ci al m at t ers n ot in ev i d en ce, t o reb u k e co u n s el an d g i v e cu rat i v e

i n s t ru ct i o n t o en d eav or t o rem o v e i m p ro p er i m pres s i o n fro m ju ry ’ s m i nd s i f co u n s el

o b ject s t o i m

p ro p er s t at em en t s, an d i n i t s d i s cret io n to o rd er m i s t ri al i f p l ai n t i ff’ s

at t o rn ey i s o ffen d er). Bu t u n l i k e i n S t o l t e

, 29 1 Ga. at 47 9 -4 8 2 (2 ), an d S t eel e v.

At l a n t a Ma t er n a l -Fet a l Med i ci n e

, 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 62 2

, 62 2 -6 2 5 (1 ) (6 1 0 SE2 d 5 4 6 )

(2 0 0 5 )

, o v e r ru l ed in p art o n o th er g ro u n d s by S mi t h v. Fi n ch

, 2 8 5 Ga. 7 0 9, 7 1 2 (1 )

(6 8 1 SE2 d 1 4 7 ) (2 0 0 9), wh i ch Y o u n g ci t es in s u p p ort o f th i s arg u m en t

, h ere t h e t ri al

co u rt n ei t h er o verru l ed n o r s u s t ai n ed Yo u ng ’ s o b ject i o n

. “ It i s t h e d u t y of co u n s el to

o b t ai n a ru l i n g o n h i s m ot i o n s o r o b ject i on s

. ” S

mi th v. S ta cey , 2 8 1 Ga. 6 0 1 , 6 0 2 (1 )

(6 4 2 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). M o reo v er, “ t h e fact t h at

[Yo un g ] m ad e a p ri o r o b

jec t i o n [d i d ] n ot ob v iat e [h i s ] res p o n s i b i l i t y t o i nt erp o s e a

co n tem p o ran eo u s o b

j ect i o n at each i n s t an ce o f o ffen d i n g arg um en t.” S t ol t e

, 2 9 1 Ga.

at 4 8 2 (2 ) (b ) (ci t at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). An o b ject io n t o a cl os i n g arg u m en t

m ad e aft er t h e arg u m en t h as co n c l u d e d i s un t i m el y

. See i d .; s ee al s o Mu l l i n s v.

Th o mp so n

, 2 74 Ga. 3 6 6

, 3 6 7 (2 ) (5 5 3 SE2 d 1 5 4 ) (2 0 0 1) (m o ti o n fo r m i st ri al b as ed

6o n i m

p ro p er cl o s i n g arg u m en t can n o t b e m ad e aft er cl o s i n g arg u m en t ); Ha mi l t o n v.

S h u mp er t , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 7

, 1 4 4 (3 ) (6 8 2 SE2 d 1 5 9 ) (2 0 09 ) (acco rd ).

U n d e r th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we m u s t as s es s t h e al l eg ed l y i m p ro p er cl o s i n g

arg u m en t s t o d et erm i ne “ wh et h er t h e i m p ro p er arg u m en t [s ] i n reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y

ch an ged t h e res u l t o f t h e t ri al .” S to l te

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 4 8 3 (2 ) (b ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d )

. A ss um i n g t h at t h e arg u m en t s referri ng t o “ p ercep t i o n an d

react i o n t i m e” were i m

p ro p er (g i v en t h at n o t ri al ev i d en ce ad d res s ed t hat co n cep t ),

we can no t s ay t h at i n reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h es e arg u m en t s ch an g ed t h e t ri al res u l t

.

Ot h er t ri al ev i d en ce cas t d o u b t o n Yo u n g ’ s d ep i ct i o n o f ev en ts

, i n cl u d i n g : t h e

p h y s i cal s k i d m ark ev i d en ce; t he t es t i m on y fro m Gri ffi n an d t h e o t h er ey ewi t n es s es

t h at t h e cro s s i n g arm h ad beg u n d es cen d in g b efo re G ri ffi n s t art ed h i s U-t u rn

, t h at

t h ey s aw n o o n co m i n g t raffi c at t h at t i m e, an d th at Yo un g s t r u c k Gri ffi n as Gri ffi n

h ad n earl y co m

p l et ed h i s t u rn ; an d t h e t es t i m o ny of t h e i n v es t i g at i n g p o l i ce o ffi cer

reg ard i n g th e i n f

o r m a ti o n he o b t ai n ed at t h e s cen e. M o reo v er, t he t ri al co u rt

s p eci fi cal l y i n s t ru ct ed th e j u ry t h at “ wh at t h e l awy ers s ay d u ri n g t h i s t ri al i s n ot

ev i d en ce,” i n cl u d i n g wh at “ t h ey s ay i n t hei r ope ning st at em en t s o r t h ei r arg um en t s [.] ”

Cf. O ’Ne a l v

. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 2 1 9

, 2 2 3 (2 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 28 8 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (fi n di n g i t h i g h l y

p ro b ab l e t h at t ri al co u rt ’ s in ad eq u at e res p o n s e t o im p ro p er cl os i n g arg u m en t d i d n ot

7co n tri b u t e t o ju ry ’ s v erd i ct i n l i g h t of s t r en g th of s tat e’ s ev id en ce an d t ri al co urt ’ s

s p eci fi c in s t ru ct i o n t o j u r y th at cl os i ng arg u m en t s o f co u n s el d id n ot co n s t i t u t e

ev i d en ce).

Acco rd i ng l y

, we fi n d n o rev ers i b l e erro r ari s i n g fro m t h e tri al co u rt ’ s res p o n s e

t o t he al leg ed l y

i m p ro per arg u m en t s

.

3

. Ju r y ch a r g es

.

Ov er Yo u n g’ s ob

ject i o n

, t h e t ri al co urt ch arg ed t h e j u ry o n cert ai n p ro v i s i on s

o f OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 4 0 ( c o n cern i n g a d ri v er’ s res p o n s i b i l i t y t o s to p at a rai l ro ad

cro s s i n g ), O CGA § 4 0-6 -1 8 0 ( c o n cern i n g a d ri v er’ s s p eed wh en ap pro ach i n g a

rai l ro ad c r oss i n g

, am on g o t h er t h i n g s), an d OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 8 2 (co n cern i n g t h e s et t i n g

o f s p eed li m i t s ). Th e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry th at G ri ffi n co n t en d ed Yo u n g h ad

v i o l at ed each o f t h es e Co de s ect i o n s

, t hat t h e ju ry was t o d et erm i n e wh et h er s u ch a

v i o l at i o n o ccu rred

, an d th at an y s u ch v i o l at io n co n st it u t ed n eg l ig en ce as a m at t er o f

l aw. Yo u n g arg u es t hat t h e ev i d en ce d i d n o t s u p p o rt t h es e ch arg es

. See Dep t

. of

Tr a ns p

. v. Da vi s o n In ves t men t Co

. , 26 7 Ga. 5 6 8, 57 0 (2 ) ( 4 8 1 SE2 d 5 22 ) (1 9 9 7 )

(“ In s t ru ct i o n s n o t warran t ed b y t h e ev i d en ce are cau s e fo r a new t ri al u n l es s i t i s

ap p aren t t h at t h e ju ry co u ld n o t h av e been m i s l ed t h ereb y .”) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e ch arg es o n OCGA § § 4 0 -6 -1 4 0 an d 40 -6 -1 80 were co rrect

,

8an d t h e ch arg e o n OCGA § 40 -6 -1 82 was harm les s

. W e t herefo re fi n d n o gro u n d fo r

rev ers al

.

In t h e ch arg e, t h e t ri al co u rt reci t ed v erb at im th e fo ll o wi n g p o rt io n s o f OCGA

§ 4 0-6 -1 4 0 :

(a) W h en ev er an y p ers o n d ri v i n g a v eh i cl e ap p ro ach es a rai l ro ad grad e

cro s si n g

, s u ch d ri v er s h al l s t o p wi t h i n 5 0 feet b u t no t l es s th an 1 5 feet

fro m t h e n eares t rai l o f s u ch rai l ro ad an d sh al l n o t p ro ceed u nt i l h e can

d o s o s afel y

, wh en : (1 ) A cl earl y v i si b l e el ect ri c o r m ech an i c a l s i g nal

d ev i ce g i ves warn in g o f t h e i m m ed i at e ap p ro ach o f a t rai n ; (2 ) A

cro s si n g g at e i s lo wered o r a h u m an fl ag m an g iv es or co n t i n u es t o g iv e

a s i g n al o f t h e ap p ro ach o f th e p as sag e o f a t rai n; o r (3 ) A n ap p ro ach i n g

t rai n i s p l ai n l y v i s i b l e an d i s i n h azard o u s pro x i m i t y t o su ch cro s s i n g

.

(b ) No p e r s o n s h al l d ri v e an y v eh i cl e t h ro u g h

, aro u n d

, o r u n d er an y

cro s si n g g at e o r barri er at a rai l ro ad cro ss i n g wh il e s uch g at e o r b arri er

i s cl os ed or i s b ei n g o p en ed o r cl o s ed

. . . . (d ) No p ers o n s h al l d ri ve a

v eh i cl e o v er a rai l ro ad g rad e cro s s i n g wh en a t rai n i s ap p ro ach i n g

.

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 4 0 (a), (b ), (d ). Th e tri al co u rt al s o reci t ed v erb at i m t h e en t i ret y o f

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 8 0 , wh i ch p ro v i d es :

No p ers o n s h al l d ri v e a veh i cl e at a s p eed g reat er t h an i s reas o nab l e an d

p r u d en t u n d er t h e co nd i t i o n s an d h av i n g reg ard fo r th e act u al an d

p o t en t i al h azard s t hen ex i s t i n g. Co n s i s t en t l y wi t h t h e fo reg o i n g

, ev ery

p ers on s h al l d ri v e at a reas o n ab le an d p ru den t s p eed w h en ap p ro ach i n g

an d cro s s i n g an i nt ers ect i o n o r rai l ro ad g rad e cro s s i n g

, wh en

9ap p ro ach i n g an d g o i n g aro u n d a cu rv e, w h en ap p r oa c hing a n d t r a ve r sing

a h i l l cres t

, wh en t rav el in g u p o n an y narro w o r w i n d i n g ro ad way

, an d

wh en s p eci al h azard s ex i s t wi t h res p ect to p ed es t ri an s o r o t h er traffi c o r

b y reas o n o f weat h er o r h i g h way co n d i ti o n s.

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 8 0

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n g i v i n g ch arg es on ei t h er of t h es e Co d e s ect i o n s

.

Th e t ri al ev i d en ce s u p po rt ed t h e g i v i n g of a c h a r g e o n OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 4 0

, b ecau s e

t h ere was ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce t h at Yo u n g cro s s ed t h e rai l ro ad t rack s aft er t h e

cro s s i n g g at e b eg an t o d es cen d

. Sev eral w i t nes s es t es t i fi ed t h at th e c r o s s i n g g at e

b eg an t o d es cen d b ef

o re G ri ffi n s t art ed h i s tu rn

, an d Yo u n g t es t i fi ed t h at h e was o n

t h e rai l ro ad t rack s wh en h e s aw Gri ffi n ’ s t ru ck b l o ck in g h i s l an e

. M o reo v er, t h e

i n v es t i g at i n g p o l i ce o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at w i t nes s es at t h e s cen e to l d hi m t h at Yo u n g

h ad cro ss ed t h e t rack s as t h e g at e was des cen di ng

. Th e t ri al ev i d en ce al so s u p p o rt ed

t h e g iv i n g o f a ch arg e on O C G A § 4 0 -6 -1 8 0

, b ecau s e i t s h owed t h at on e o f t h e

co n d i t i o n s ad dres s ed b y t h at Co d e s ect i on

– t h e ap pro ach i n g an d cro s s i n g o f a

rai l ro ad grad e cro s s i n g –

was at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e.

Fi n al l y

, t h e t ri a l co u rt reci t ed v erb at i m t h e en t iret y o f O CGA § 4 0 -6 -1 8 2,

wh i ch p ro v i des :

10W h en ev er t h e co m m i s s i o n er o f p u b l i c s afet y o r t h e co m m i s s i on er o f

t ran s p o rt at i o n s h al l d et erm i n e u p o n t h e b as i s o f an en gi n eeri ng an d

t raffi c i n v es t i g at i on th at an y m ax i m u m s p eed s et fo rt h i n t hi s art i cl e i s

g reat er o r l es s t h an i s reas o n ab l e o r s afe u n der t h e co n d i t i o n s fo u n d t o

ex i s t at an y i n t ers ect i o n o r o t h e r p l a c e o r u p o n an y p art o f t h e s t at e

h i g h way s y st em

, t h ey m ay jo in t ly d et erm i n e an d d ecl ar e a reas o n ab l e

an d s afe m ax i m

u m s p eed at s u ch p l a c e

, wh i ch s h al l b e effect i v e wh en

ap p ro p r i a t e s i gn s g i v i n g n o t i ce t h ereo f are erect ed

. Su ch a m ax im um

s p eed l i m it m ay b e d ecl ared t o b e effect i v e at al l t i m es as are i n d i cat ed

u p o n s u ch s i g n s ; a n d d i fferi n g l i m i t s m ay b e es t ab l i s h ed fo r d ifferen t

t i m es o f d ay

, d ifferen t v ary i n g w e a t h er co n d i t i on s

, an d o t h er fact ors

b eari n g o n s afe s p eed s

, wh i ch s h a l l b e effect i v e wh en p o st ed u p o n

ap p ro p ri at e fi x ed o r v ari ab l e s ig n s

. In n o cas e sh al l t h e m ax i m u m s p eed

l i m i t fo r an y h ig h way b e es t ab l i sh ed at h i g h er t h an t he m ax i m u m s p eed

l i m i t s s et fo rt h i n Co d e Sect i o n 4 0-6 -1 8 1 fo r t h at t y p e o f h ig h way

.

OCGA § 4 0-6 -1 82

. Al t h o ug h t h i s ch arg e accu rat el y reci t ed t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f OCGA

§ 4 0 -6 -1 8 2

, i t was n ot ap p ro p ri at e fo r t he t ri al co u r t t o ch arg e t h e ju ry wi th

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er Yo u n g v i o l at ed t h i s Co de s ect i o n. As Yo u n g p o i n ts o u t i n h i s

ap p el l at e b ri ef, OCGA § 4 0 -6 -1 8 2 d o es n o t g o v e rn h is b eh av i o r; it g o vern s t h e

act i on s o f t h e co m

m i s s i o n ers o f p u b l i c s afet y a n d t r a n s p o rt at io n i n s et t i n g s p eed

lim i t s

. “ Nev ert h el es s

, we d i scern n o rev ers i bl e erro r h ere b ecau s e an i n ap p l i cab l e ju r y

i n s t ru ct i o n i s n o t g ro u nd s fo r rev ers al wh ere i t d o es n o t ap p ear t h at t h e i n ap p l i cab l e

11p art w as c a l c u l a t ed t o m i s l ead t he ju ry

, erro n eo u sl y affect ed t h e v erd i ct o r was

p reju d i ci al t o t h e ri g h t s o f t h e co m pl ai n i n g p art y

. ” W

i l l i a ms v. Ca

p it o l Co r p o r a t e

Cl ea ni n g

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1

, 6 4 (1 ) (e) (7 2 0 S E2 d 22 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e po s ted s p eed l i m i t i n t h is cas e was

u n d i s p u t e d

, an d n o s u g g es t io n was m ad e t h at t h e p os t ed sp eed l i m i t h ad b een

i m p ro p erl y s et

. Co n s eq u en t ly

, t h e ch arg e o n t h e s t at u t e g o v ern in g t h e s et t i ng o f s p eed

l i m i ts “ d i d n o t d e m a n d a fi n d i n g ag ai n st [Yo un g ]

. It was a m at t er fo r t h e ju ry to

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce, ev al u at e cau s at i o n

, an d al l o cat e l i ab i li t y

. Bas ed o n t h e reco rd in

t h i s cas e, t h e ch al l en g ed j u ry i n s t r u c t i o n d i d n o t affect t h at pro ces s su ch t h at a

rev ers al is req ui red

. ” Id

. (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . An d

r ews , P. J., a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

12