Most dangerous cities to drive in Georgia

Georgia is the #13 state for fatal car accidents in America, experiencing 1.5 fatal crashes per 10,000 residents in 2022. Overall, 1,797 people died in Georgia car accidents that year.

Truck Parking Club used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to rank the cities in Georgia with the highest accident rates as part of a larger national analysis. Rankings are based on the rate of accidents per 10,000 residents in 2022. Ties were broken by the total number of fatal accidents, though some ties may remain. Only cities with at least 10 fatal crashes and 20,000 residents were included in the analysis. Cities without available Census Bureau population estimates were not included.

More than 42,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2022, making these accidents a leading cause of death in the U.S. These deaths occurred during over 39,000 crashes that year—about one crash per 10,000 U.S. residents, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tallies. But in some cities, the roads are more deadly than in others.

Fatal car crash rates fell for several decades as federal and state governments adopted safety regulations for vehicle manufacturers and occupants. But rates went up in 2020 and 2021, with increases in fatalities related to alcohol and speeding. When COVID-19 restrictions decreased the number of cars on the road, many drivers adopted risky driving behaviors that have persisted even as traffic returned to normal. While fatalities decreased in 2022, they remain higher than they've been in over a decade.

Nationally, nearly all of the top 25 cities for fatal crashes were in the Southeast. Most were smaller cities: Over half had populations of fewer than 50,000, while only three had more than 100,000 residents. They also tended to be far from major cities. Geographic hazards exist in most, including hilly terrain, winding rivers, and dense forests. Nearly all of the top cities have some type of waterfront—rivers, lakes, coasts, and the like—which may pose distractions for drivers taking in the view.

About half of the deadliest cities nationwide are in Georgia—nearly half of which sit within the Atlanta metro area. Though these may be considered suburbs of Atlanta, most are far from the city's downtown. Few are serviced by Atlanta's public transit systems, meaning anyone commuting to the city will almost certainly drive for at least part of their trip. In addition, Atlanta ranks as one of the worst highest-populated cities to drive in, according to a 2024 Forbes analysis. These factors add to the risk of accidents.

Georgia Department of Transportation data suggests the high volume of deaths in the state is due to speeding, aggressive driving, and people not using seatbelts. Efforts are underway to minimize Georgia's traffic deaths. The state's transportation department received a $2.5 million grant to mitigate and decrease crashes, funding car seat distribution, crash data analysis, and education efforts for drivers over 55. Atlanta's Emory University and Grady Health System also received $4.4 million to study crashes in the metro area and research ways to reduce crashes.

Read on to see the cities in Georgia that were affected most by fatal car crashes.

#18. Athens

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 0.9 (Below the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 11 (11 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (6 fatal accidents)

#17. Columbus

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.2 (About the same as the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 25 (25 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Not available or unknown

#16. Savannah

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.4 (About 1.2x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 21 (22 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Local city streets (11 fatal accidents)

#15. Augusta

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.6 (About 1.4x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 33 (33 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (14 fatal accidents)

#14. Atlanta

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.8 (About 1.5x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 91 (101 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Interstates (37 fatal accidents)

#13. Newnan

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 2.5 (About 2.1x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 11 (11 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (4 fatal accidents)

#12. Albany

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 2.8 (About 2.4x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 19 (19 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (8 fatal accidents)

#11. Macon

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 2.9 (About 2.5x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 46 (51 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (21 fatal accidents)

#10. La Grange

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 3.1 (About 2.6x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 10 (12 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (5 fatal accidents)

#9. Rome

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 3.2 (About 2.7x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 12 (12 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (7 fatal accidents)

#8. Lawrenceville

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 3.3 (About 2.8x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 10 (10 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (4 fatal accidents)

#7. Stockbridge

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 3.9 (About 3.3x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 14 (14 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Interstates (5 fatal accidents)

#6. Gainesville

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 4.0 (About 3.4x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 18 (19 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (14 fatal accidents)

#5. Griffin

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 4.2 (About 3.6x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 10 (10 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (7 fatal accidents)

#4. Mcdonough

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 4.3 (About 3.7x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 13 (16 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Local township streets (3 fatal accidents)

#3. Marietta

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 4.6 (About 3.9x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 29 (29 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (7 fatal accidents)

#2. Decatur

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 4.9 (About 4.2x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 12 (14 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: County roads (6 fatal accidents)

#1. Cartersville

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 5.9 (About 5.0x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 14 (15 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (8 fatal accidents)

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 29 states.