Seven people were killed in traffic crashes on Georgia roads over the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend, which began at 6 p.m. Friday.
This is a new record low for the number of traffic deaths on Georgia roads since the Memorial Day holiday period was established in 1969. The previous record low was 10 as recorded in 1979.
It was an excellent weekend, said Sgt. 1st Class Keith Collins, commander of the Georgia State Patrol Post in Perry. “It was one of best on record, an all time low.”
None of the fatalities were in the Middle Georgia area, and Collins said there was only one minor wreck with minor injuries Friday morning worked in by troopers from the Perry post.
The seven fatalities is also well below the 18 predicted for the weekend, and the 17 last year. “That’s what we want,” Collins said. “Troopers hit the roads hard to slow people down and evidently we’re doing our job.”
The first two traffic deaths were both recorded in the early hours of the holiday count that began Friday evening at 6 p.m. and ended midnight Tuesday. The rest of the deaths were reported Monday, with the nearest in Dodge County.
According to the preliminary numbers from the GSP, there were more accidents with 2,499 than the predicted 2,235 and the 2,103 last year, but fewer injuries.
There were only 773 traffic injuries reported over the holiday weekend, well below the 989 predicted and 1,062 last year.
Traffic predictions are issued jointly by the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation for the MemorialDay, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel periods. The holiday traffic count is compiled from traffic crashes reported to the GSP during the holiday period.
Throughout the weekend, Georgia State Troopers, officers with the DPS Motor Carrier Compliance Division and Capitol Police teamed with local law enforcement officers for an all-out emphasis on seat belt and child restraint use any time people will be traveling in a motor vehicle. Officers are also watching for impaired drivers during their patrols as well. Troopers reported 26 DUI arrests during a two-night concentrated patrol effort in Bartow and Gordon counties
Friday and Saturday. That enforcement effort also resulted in seven felony arrests, eight misdemeanor drug arrests and the apprehension of five wanted persons.
