Traffic crashes during the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend claimed the lives of seven people across the state, 11 fewer than traffic estimates and three fewer than the previous record-low of 10 in 1979.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the holiday traffic count ended at midnight Monday with 2,499 traffic crashes reported, resulting in 773 injuries and seven fatalities.
The holiday period began Friday at 6 p.m. and ended at midnight Memorial Day. Traffic estimates from the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation were for 2,235 crashes, 989 injuries and 18 deaths. Traffic deaths were reported from the Barrow County Sheriff's Department, the Henry County Police Department, the Douglasville Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol posts in Cartersville, Helena, Donalsonville and Waycross.
High visibility enforcement of Georgia’s seat belt and child restraint law by officers across the state combined with heavy safety education efforts and good weather are being noted as having contributed to the lower than predicted number of traffic deaths and injuries. State troopers noted that although the number of traffic crashes was higher than expected and the traffic volume was as heavy as anticipated, more people escaped serious injury or death thanks to seat belt use.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the holiday traffic count ended at midnight Monday with 2,499 traffic crashes reported, resulting in 773 injuries and seven fatalities.
The holiday period began Friday at 6 p.m. and ended at midnight Memorial Day. Traffic estimates from the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation were for 2,235 crashes, 989 injuries and 18 deaths. Traffic deaths were reported from the Barrow County Sheriff's Department, the Henry County Police Department, the Douglasville Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol posts in Cartersville, Helena, Donalsonville and Waycross.
High visibility enforcement of Georgia’s seat belt and child restraint law by officers across the state combined with heavy safety education efforts and good weather are being noted as having contributed to the lower than predicted number of traffic deaths and injuries. State troopers noted that although the number of traffic crashes was higher than expected and the traffic volume was as heavy as anticipated, more people escaped serious injury or death thanks to seat belt use.