ATLANTA — Georgia transportation officials have been reporting for some time that traffic fatalities are on the rise, and a new report paints a picture of just how dire things have gotten.
According to a report compiled by Atlanta personal injury firm John Foy & Associates, Georgia saw the sixth-highest increase over the last 10 years in traffic deaths of any state in the U.S.
Data in the report show Georgia with a nearly 30% increase in car crash deaths from 2012 to 2021, or a rise from 18.11 deaths per 100,000 licensed drivers yearly to 23.45.
The report states that 23.45 figure is the 15th highest among the U.S., up from Georgia's position of 19th back in 2012.
The five states with a larger increase than Georgia were Florida, Washington, Illinois, Indiana and Oregon. The four states that followed Georgia were California, Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado.
“Over the past decade, people might imagine that driving has become safer, thanks to newer cars with better technology and higher safety standards, however this data shows that isn’t the case. Comparing the fatal crash rate per 100,000 licensed drivers in 2012 to 2021 reveals there are only 14 states where it has decreased," Foy said in a statement. “There are many reasons as to why car crashes happen, whether that be the fault of an individual or weather conditions, but this analysis demonstrates that it is still absolutely essential for people to drive carefully, no matter where they are.”
The report sourced its data to the Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
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