22 Ga. highway deaths

From Staff Reports

ATLANTA — Georgians who are just starting off on their mid-summer holiday travel should count themselves fortunate if the worst of their traffic complaints include congestion on metro area commutes. It’s a fact that there are more crashes during the summer travel months, due in part to the increased vacation traffic volume. But with the 78-hour holiday travel period ahead, motorists beware: There’s a sobering set of injury and fatality crash predictions for the July Fourth celebration in Georgia.

Estimates from the DOT Crash Reporting Unit and the Georgia State Patrol call for as many as 1,874 crashes resulting in 895 injuries and 22 traffic deaths on Georgia roadways this Independence Day weekend.

“But most of these crashes aren’t just random events caused by too many cars navigating through too much congestion, says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). “And don’t blame it on construction because DOT road projects have been suspended on all highways from noon Thursday until 5 a.m. Monday to help relieve holiday congestion. Drivers need to pay attention to Georgia State Patrol findings that alcohol, speed and failure to use safety belts are the primary contributing factors in fatal crashes during the holiday travel periods,” said Dallas.

During the 2008 Independence Day period, there were 1,860 traffic crashes, 910 injuries and 22 traffic deaths in Georgia. “Those holiday fatality stats continue to show why we encourage Georgia law enforcement to conduct stepped-up high-visibility speed, DUI, and safetybelt enforcement campaigns during these holidays,” says Dallas. “Our studies also show there are more safety belt violations and DUIs after dark. It’s another reason GOHS coordinates so many seatbelt and sobriety checks at night.”

• The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety urges drivers to use extra caution during the July 4th holiday driving period which started at 6 p.m. Thursday and ends at midnight Sunday.

• GOHS says motorists should be prepared to encounter high-visibility Operation Zero Tolerance sobriety checkpoints throughout the holiday weekend as part of the July 4 mobilization. Visit www.gahighwaysafety for more about driving sober.

• The Georgia Department of Transportation (G-DOT) is advising motorists to expect delays, plan ahead and be patient during a very busy travel weekend ahead.

• G-DOT predicts heavier than normal traffic congestion on Thursday and Sunday in high-volume areas. Motorists can call 511 on any phone for current road conditions and free, real-time traffic information.

• The Georgia State Patrol advises travelers to make sure drivers and passengers are all properly restrained, to designate a sober driver if alcohol consumption is in the holiday plans, and for that driver to obey the posted speed limit. GSP reminds motorists to make a cell phone call to Star G-S-P (*477) to report drunk drivers.

Travel experts predict fewer Georgians will be flying this summer holiday of 2009 and that means more motorists on our highways. Even those travelers who are driving are expected to take shorter day-trips to the lake or just to a cross-town backyard barbecue.

But here’s where traffic enforcement officers say the designated driver rule especially applies for those shorter holiday day-trips: Partygoers who don’t stay at holiday destinations overnight can often lose track of how much they’ve had to drink and when they get back on the road they’re driving impaired. One DUI Task Force Officer says, “This can happen especially if someone’s consuming alcoholic beverages from their own cooler instead of paying by-the-drink at a bar. At a bar they tend to keep more of a running tab, both on the cost and on their own consumption. But a 12-pack in a poolside cooler can spell DUI at the end of the day if someone doesn’t plan for a designated driver to get them home safely.”

“That’s why the most important highway safety survival fact we can share this Independence Day weekend is that everyone’s best defense against an unexpected crash with a drunk driver is a buckled safety belt,” says Dallas. “More than 70-percent of drivers and passengers involved in serious crashes nationwide survived when wearing safety belts correctly in 2008. There’s no question. Safety belts are among the most important lifesaving inventions of our time. No other every-day device saves lives faster or as often as your safety belt,” says Dallas.

How many times has a seat belt protected you in a close-call or saved the life of someone you know? The July 4th Crash Count will be posted throughout the holiday weekend on the GSP website at http://dps.georgia.gov

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