More Than 9 in 10 Georgia Highway Deaths Happened Without Bad Weather
A new analysis from Van Sant Law finds that most of Georgia’s highway deaths happen during completely ordinary driving conditions. Of the deaths on Georgia’s interstates, U.S. highways, and state highways in 2024, 74.1% occurred in clear weather and another 17.2% under cloudy skies, so more than nine in 10 happened with no adverse weather recorded. Rain was present in 7.5% of highway deaths, the largest share of any adverse condition, while fog, smoke, and smog appeared in less than 1%. The findings come from 2024 data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Crash Data Analysis Tool, which show Georgia recorded 12.5 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents, above the national rate of 11.5, with 1,403 people killed statewide. The study notes that clear skies do not make driving more dangerous. Instead, the data shows how often fatal crashes happen on routine trips, with no storm, heavy rain, or other weather event changing the drive. Driver behavior played a major role,...
