(Media release from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety):
The newly released “2021 Rural and Urban Comparison” Georgia Traffic Safety Factsheet from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) found a disproportionate number of traffic deaths in rural areas of the state compared to urban areas. Crash data shows more than one-third (34 percent) of Georgia’s traffic fatalities occurred in rural counties— though only 21 percent of the population lives in rural counties. In 2021, 562 people died and 2,070 were seriously injured on public roadways in rural counties. The total motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalization and emergency room charges were $348.0 million for facilities located in rural counties and $1,604.4 million for facilities located in urban counties.
Preliminary crash data also shows a higher proportionate number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in rural areas compared to urban areas. According to the “2022 Observational Survey of Seat Belt Use in Georgia” report, rural counties had lowest seat belt usage rates (81.7 percent) compared to Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (90.3 percent) or counties in other Metropolitan Statistical Areas (87.5 percent). Pickup trucks in rural counties had the lowest restraint use among all passenger vehicle occupants (75.2 percent) in Georgia.
“Mistakes happen every day in our lives including when we are on the road, which is why we all need to buckle up before every trip because a seat belt offers the best protection when a mistake behind the wheel causes a traffic crash,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “One of our missions is to prevent traffic deaths on Georgia roads and highways and the data from Georgia Traffic Safety Factsheets is one of the key tools our highway safety partners use to develop and implement programs aimed at saving lives.”
Driving in rural areas can have different challenges than you may face in city or highway driving. Here are a few safety tips to consider when driving in rural counties:
- Slow Down! Speed limits tend to be higher in rural areas, which increases the risk of a fatal crash.
- Watch out for slow– moving vehicles and yield to wide vehicles. Rural roads can be home to slow-moving and wide vehicles like tractors and farm trucks. Be patient.
- Pass with caution. Do not pass if there are curves or hills ahead that may block your view or the view of oncoming vehicles.
- Reduce your risk by avoiding risky driving behaviors. Slow down, drive unimpaired, stay awake and undistracted, and wear your seatbelt or helmet.
To read the complete 2021 Rural v. Urban Georgia Traffic Safety Factsheet, visit https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/georgia-traffic-safety-facts/. You can also follow GOHS at https://www.facebook.com/GAHighwaySafety and at gohsgeorgia on Twitter and Instagram.
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective. For more information about DPH, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/.
