Overview of motor vehicle crashes in 2021

Georgia Traffic Safety Facts
2021 Data

October 2023
In this fact sheet, information is presented as follows.
Fatality & Injury Rates Police-Reported Crashes Urban vs. Rural Traffic Safety Highlights
by Emphasis Area Georgia Traffic Safety
Performance Measures
Other topic-specific, Georgia Traffic Safety Facts available for 2021 are:
Risky Driving Distracted Driving Pedestrians & Bicyclists
(Non-Motorists) Occupant Protection Rural Roads Motorcycles Older Drivers Young Drivers Large Trucks This fact sheet contains information from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crash data modified by the Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System (CODES) at the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
7 MLK. Jr Dr SE Suite #643 Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-6996 www.gahighwaysafety.org

Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2021
This fact sheet provides an overview of traffic fatalities, serious injuries, and crashes on Georgia roadways, in addition to topic-specific emphasis areas and a summary table of Georgia Traffic Safety Performance Measures.
2021 Key Findings
Traffic Fatalities
In Georgia, there were 1,797 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2021, resulting in
1.49 traffic fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This is the largest number of traffic fatalities experienced in the past decade. Although Georgia ranks fourth in the number of fatalities in the nation, it ranks 16th in fatalities per 100M VMT.
Georgia traffic fatalities increased by 8 percent from 1,664 in 2020 to 1,797 in
2021. The Atlanta region experienced an increase in the number of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, motorcyclist fatalities, pedestrian fatalities, alcohol-related fatalities, speeding-related fatalities, young drivers involved in fatal crashes, and older drivers aged 65+ years involved in fatal crashes. Rural regions experienced an increase in the number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, fatalities involving large trucks, and older drivers aged 65+ years involved in fatal crashes.
Serious Traffic Injuries & Cost
Between 2017 and 2021, the number of suspected serious crash injuries
reported by law enforcement responding to a motor vehicle traffic incident increased by 66 percent, from 5,370 in 2017 to 8,937 in 2021. Car passenger vehicle and light truck passenger vehicle occupants (pickup trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles) continue to have the highest proportion of serious injuries in traffic crashes.
Approximately 3 percent of all 911 calls were related to motor vehicle traffic
incidents (motor vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists) where emergency medical services (EMS) transported persons to a hospital (100,965 EMS transports). According to the Georgia Trauma Registry data, motor vehicle traffic-related incidents accounted for 26 percent of all injuries treated by designated and non-designated Trauma Centers across the state of Georgia. In 2021, the total motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalization and emergency room charges in Georgia was $2.2 billion for 8,598 motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalizations and 93,536 motor vehicle traffic-related emergency room visits.

Fatalities and Injury Rates Traffic-related fatalities in Georgia increased by 8 percent from 1,664 roadway fatalities in 2020 to 1,797 fatalities in 2021. Despite the increase in the number of fatalities, the estimated rate of traffic fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) decreased from 1.43 in 2020 to 1.49 in 2021. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Highway Policy Information Traffic Volume Trends, vehicle miles traveled in Georgia increased by 11 percent between 2020 and 2021; however, the overall VMT in 2021 is still lower than pre-pandemic norms.

Figure 1: Fatalities and Fatality Rate per 100M VMT,

2012-2021

2,500
2,000
1.11
1,500
1,192 1,000

Fatalities
1.08 1.04
1,180 1,164

Fatality Rate per 100M VMT
1.43 1.21 1.27 1.23 1.14 1.12
1,432 1,556 1,540 1,505 1,492 1,664

1.6
1.49 1.4
1.2
1,797 1
0.8
0.6

0.4 500
0.2

-

0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: FARS 20122021

In 2021, the state of Georgia ranked as the fourth-highest number of traffic fatalities and 16th by fatality rate (traffic fatalities per 100M VMT) in the nation. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of national traffic fatalities increased by 10 percent, and the national fatality rate per 100M VMT increased by 2 percent. During this time, Georgia experienced an 8 percent increase in traffic fatalities and a 4 percent increase in the fatality rate per 100M VMT.
Across the five states within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region IV (Southeastern United States), Georgia ranks second for the highest traffic fatalities and fourth for the traffic fatality rate. The number of traffic fatalities within the NHTSA Region IV increased by 10 percent from 2020 to 2021, and the fatality rate per 100M VMT increased by 4 percent.

Table 1: Traffic Fatalities, Fatality Rate per 100M VMT by Region and Year (2017, 2020, and 2021)

Traffic Fatalities

Fatality Rate per 100M VMT

Region
National NHTSA Region IV AL, FL, GA, SC, TN

2017 37,473

2020 39,007

2021 42,939

Percentage Change

5-Year

1-Year

Comparison Comparison

(2017-2021) (2020-2021)

15%

10%

7,617 8,204 9,043

19%

10%

2017
1.17 1.38

2020
1.34 1.57

2021
1.37 1.64

Percentage Change

5-Year

1-Year

Comparison Comparison

(2017-2021) (2020-2021)

17%

2%

19%

4%

Georgia

1,540 1,658 1,797

17%

8% 1.23 1.43 1.49

21%

4%

Source: FARS 2017, 2020, and 2021

In Georgia, the traffic fatality rates (per 100M VMT, population, licensed drivers, and registered vehicles) increased in 2021 compared to 2020 (Table 2).
Vehicle miles traveled increased by 4 percent (4.7 million more miles), resulting in 1.49 traffic fatalities per 100M VMT.
Population increased by less than 1 percent (+89,549 persons), resulting in 16.6 traffic fatalities per 100,000 persons.
Licensed drivers decreased by 4 percent (-325,059 drivers), resulting in 22.4 traffic fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers.
Registered vehicles increased by less than 1 percent (+2,391 vehicles), resulting in 17.4 traffic fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles.

Table 2: Traffic Fatality Rate per Vehicle Miles Traveled, Population, Licensed Drivers, and Registered Vehicles, 2012-2021

Year

Traffic Fatalities

2012 1,192

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Number (millions)

Fatality Rate per
100M

107,387 1.11

Population

Number
9,919,945

Fatality Rate per 100,000
12.0

Licensed Drivers

Number
7,043,349

Fatality Rate per 100,000
16.9

Registered Vehicles

Number
8,686,939

Fatality Rate per 100,000
13.7

2013 1,180

109,259 1.08

9,992,167 11.8 7,099,538 16.6

8,785,922 13.4

2014 1,164

111,923 1.04 10,097,343 11.5 7,263,758 16.0

8,933,714 13.0

2015 1,432

118,107 1.21 10,214,860 14.0 7,337,619 19.5

9,136,983 15.7

2016 1,556

122,802 1.27 10,310,371 15.1 7,414,323 21.0

9,329,835 16.7

2017 1,540

124,733 1.23 10,429,379 14.8 7,512,197 20.5

9,578,056 16.1

2018 1,505

131,456 1.14 10,519,475 14.3 7,616,176 19.7

9,740,847 15.4

2019 1,492

133,128 1.12 10,617,423 14.0 7,761,810 19.2

10,453,617 14.3

2020 1,664

115,967 1.43 10,710,017 15.5 8,332,657 20.0

10,349,694 16.1

2021 1,797

120,685 1.49 10,799,566 16.6 8,007,598 22.4

10,352,085 17.4

Note: The number of licensed drivers includes licensure from all classes (e.g., commercial and motorcycle). Licenses reported in 2011-2015 include suspended licenses and licenses reported in 2016-2020 are valid licenses. Source: FARS 2012-2021, OASIS 2012-2021, DDS 2012-2021, FY2014FY2021 DOR Annual Reports (DOR 2019-2020).

Suspected Serious Crash Injuries
Between 2017 and 2021, the number of suspected serious crash2 injuries increased by 66 percent, from 5,370 in 2017 to 8,937 in 2021 (Table 3). In 2021, there were 7.41 serious traffic injuries per 100M VMT (a 74 percent increase from 2017) and 2,306 serious traffic injuries per 100,000 traffic crashes (a 74 percent increase from 2017).
The comparison of traffic-related serious injuries by person type between 2020 and 2021 is shown in Figure 2. Car passenger vehicle and light truck passenger vehicle occupants continue to have the highest proportion of serious injuries in traffic crashes. The proportion of serious injuries that were nonmotorists increased from 6 percent in 2020 to 7 percent in 2021.

Table 3: Suspected Serious Injuries and Rates, 2017-2021

Year

Suspected Serious Injuries

Suspected Serious Injury Rate

Per 100M VMT

Per 100,000 Crashes

2017

5,370

4.25

1,327.5

2018

6,401

4.79

1,590.8

2019

7,308

5.53

1,808.9

2020

7,606

6.58

2,293.0

2021

8,937

7.41

2,306.7

* DOT-523 Crash Report Manual Version 3.0 was revised in January 2018 with a more detailed definition of serious injury. Note: The number of suspected serious injuries may be different from the values reported by other data sources like GEARS, CODES, and Numetric. Source: FFY2023 GOHS Core Performance Measures

Figure 2: Serious Injuries by Person Type, 2020 and 2021

2020

2021

1% 6% 5%

7% 6% 1%

11% 46%

10%

45%

30%

31%

2 Suspected Serious Injuries are reported by law enforcement responding to a motor vehicle crash scene. Suspected serious injury is used when any injury, other than fatal injury, prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or normally continuing the activities the person was capable of before the injury occurred. See Data Considerations for more information on serious injuries.

Car Passenger Vehicle Occupants Light Truck Passenger Vehicle Occupants (SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans) Motorcyclists
Source: CODES 2020 and 2021

Non-Motorists (Bicyclists & Pedestrians) Other Large Truck Occupant

Emergency Medical Services
According to the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Information System, motor vehicle traffic-related incidents accounted for 3 percent of all Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 911 calls in 2021. Nearly three quarters of all motor vehicle traffic-related EMS transports (75,918 out of 100,965 EMS transport) were reported with a motorvehicle-related ICD-10 Code. Of the 75,918 motor vehicle traffic-related incidents reported as seen or transported by EMS in 2021, 75 percent were motor vehicle occupants, 4 percent were motorcyclists, 4 percent were non-motorists, and 17 were other motor vehicle-related incidents. Compared to other age groups, persons in the 21-to-24 age group have the highest rate of EMS transports 1,376.4 transports for every 100,000 population.
Emergency Room Visits & Hospitalizations
In 2021, there were a total of 93,536 motor vehicle trafficrelated emergency room (ER) visits and 8,598 motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalizations.1 Motor vehicle occupants accounted for 90 percent of the ER visits and 49 percent of the hospitalizations related to motor vehicle traffic (Figure 4). Compared to other age groups, persons in the 21-to-24 age group have the highest rate of ER visits and hospitalizations 1,776.3 ER visits and 126.6 hospitalizations for every 100,000 population. The total motor vehicle traffic-related hospitalization and emergency room charges in Georgia was $2.2 billion.

Figure 3: Traffic-Related Injuries Transported by Emergency Medical Services by Person Type, 2021

17%
4% 4%

Motor Vehicle Occupant Motorcyclists Non-Motorists (Bicyclists & Pedestrians) Other / Unspecified

75%

75,918 out of 100,965
Motor Vehicle Traffic-Related EMS Transports had a motor-vehicle-
related ICD-10 Code.
Note: Other includes non-specified person type involved in motor vehicle trafficrelated incident. Source: Georgia Emergency Medical Services Information System (GEMSIS) 2021

Figure 4: Traffic-Related Injuries Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations by Person Type, 2021

100%

13%

75%

9%

28%

50%

90%

Motor Vehicle Occupant Motorcyclists Non-Motorists (Bicyclists & Pedestrians) Other / Unspecified

25%

49%

0% ED Visits Hospitalizations
102,134 Motor Vehicle Traffic-Related
ER & Hospital Visits
Note: Other includes non-specified person type involved in motor vehicle trafficrelated incident. Source: OHIP Hospital Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Room Visit Data (2021)

Trauma Center Patients
According to the Georgia Trauma Registry data, motor vehicle traffic-related incidents accounted for 26 percent of all injuries treated by designated and non-designated Trauma Centers2 in 2021 across the state of Georgia. Of the 13,616 motor vehicle traffic-related trauma patients treated, 79 percent were motor vehicle occupants, 12 percent were motorcyclists, and 9 percent were nonmotorists (pedestrians and bicyclists). Compared to other age groups, persons in the 21-to-24 age group have the highest rate of trauma 216.1 trauma patients for every 100,000 population. The rate of traffic-related trauma care for this age group increased by 35 percent from the rate of 160.1 in 2020.

Figure 5: Traffic-Related Trauma Injuries by Person Type, 2021

9% <1% 12%
79%
13,616 Motor Vehicle Traffic-Related
Trauma Injuries
Source: Georgia Trauma Registry Data 2021

Motor Vehicle Occupant
Motorcyclists
Non-Motorists (Bicyclists & Pedestrians) Other / Unspecified

1 Hospitalization may include individuals who visited the emergency room. Emergency room visits only include individuals who were discharged directly from the emergency room. Hospitalizations and emergency room visits are for Georgia residents only, while fatalities can be a resident from another state. 2 Not all hospitals are designated as Trauma Centers.

Police Reported Crashes
Compared to pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), the number of police-reported motor vehicle crashes on public roads, injury crashes, and Property-Damage-Only (PDO) crashes changed between 2019 and 2021, as shown in Table 5. As noted in the other publications3, the decrease in total crashes, including PDO crashes, between 2019 and 2020 can be attributed to several factors, including the reduction in the number of drivers on Georgia roadways and fewer police officers reporting to crashes with no injuries. Between 2020 and 2021, the total crashes and PDO crashes in Georgia returned to pre-pandemic norms, the serious and fatal crashes are still increasing above 2019 counts. During this time, there was a 17 percent increase in total policereported crashes, a 10 percent increase in fatal traffic crashes, a 14 percent increase in serious injury crashes, and a 19 percent increase in PDO crashes.

Table 5: Police-Reported Crashes by Crash Severity, 2017-2021

Crash Severity

2017

2018

Year 2019

2020

2021

2020-2021 Change

Number

Percent

Total Crashes

404,076 402,227 403,897 331,710 387,444

+ 55,734

Fatal Crashes

1,440

1,408

1,378

1,522

1,670

+ 148

Non-Fatal Crashes

402,636 400,819 402,519 330,188 385,774

+ 55,586

Serious Injury Crashes

4,468

5,252

6,069

6,370

7,291

+ 921

Property-DamageOnly Crashes**

297,142 295,190 289,184 234,142 278,916

+ 44,774

Source: FARS 2017-2020, *2021 TSREG Preliminary Fatality Data, Numetric 2017-2021 (extracted December 2022)

** Property-Damage-Only crashes are crashes that did not occur on private property and result in any serious or fatal injuries to occupants or non-occupants.

+ 17% + 10% + 17% + 14%
+ 19%

Crash Types
Table 6 displays the number of traffic fatalities by crash type and the number of vehicles involved in fatal crashes for 2017 and 2021. The number of fatalities in multi-vehicle fatal crashes increased by 17 percent, from 657 fatalities in 2017 to 768 fatalities in 2021.
21 percent of all fatal crashes (356 out of 1,670) occurred at an intersection or within 50 feet of an
intersection perimeter (intersection-related). The number of total fatal crashes that occurred at an intersection or intersection-related decreased by 5 percent from 374 in 2017 to 356 in 2021.
52 percent of all fatal crashes were a result of a vehicle departing the roadway by crossing an edge
line or a center line. Centerline crossing may result in a head-on collision when the vehicle enters the opposing lane of traffic. The number of multi-vehicle roadway departure fatal crashes increased by 30 percent from 201 in 2017 to 262 in 2021.
13 percent of all fatal crashes involved large trucks (commercial and non-commercial trucks with a
gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds). The number of multi-vehicle fatal crashes that involved large trucks increased by 6 percent from 179 in 2017 to 190 in 2021.

Table 6: Traffic Fatalities by Crash Type, 2017 and 2021

Fatal Crash Types

Total Fatal Crashes

Fatal Crashes

1,440

Intersection (or Intersection-Related)

374

Roadway Departure

713

Involving Large Trucks 207

Source: FARS 2017 and 2021

2017
Single Vehicle 783
100
512 28

MultiVehicle 657
274
201 179

Total Fatal Crashes
1,670

2021
Single Vehicle 902

356

81

862

600

222

32

MultiVehicle 768
275
262 190

2017-2021

Percentage Change

Total Fatal Crashes

Single Vehicle

Multi-Vehicle

16%

15%

17%

-5%

-19%

< 1%

21% 7%

17% 14%

30% 6%

3 Georgia Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System. (2022, February). Traffic Safety During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: 2020 preliminary data. (Georgia Traffic Safety Facts). Atlanta, GA: Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

Fatal Crashes by Region: Urban vs. Rural
Figure 6 shows the number of traffic fatalities by region between 2012 and 2021. One-third of all Georgia fatal crashes occur in rural areas--though only 21 percent of the Georgia population lives in rural areas. The traffic fatalities that occurred in the ten counties that make up the Atlanta region increased by 20 percent, from 426 in 2019 to 583 in 2021.
Table 7 shows the one-year comparison of selected traffic categories by region. In comparison to the previous year, the following categories increased in the Atlanta region:
Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities (33 percent increase)
Young drivers aged 15- to-20 years involved in fatal crashes (29 percent increase)
Pedestrian fatalities (20 percent increase) Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities (12 percent
increase) Older drivers aged 65+ years involved in fatal
crashes (11 percent increase) Motorcyclist fatalities (10 percent increase) Speeding-related fatalities (7 percent increase) Alcohol-related fatalities (6 percent increase)

Figure 6: Traffic Fatalities by Region, 2012-2021
Rural (118 counties) Other Urban Regions (31 counties) Atlanta Region (10 counties)
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Source: FARS 2012-2021 Note: The Atlanta Region includes the ten counties that are defined by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC): Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.
See the "Examining Crashes and Drivers in Rural Areas" and "Rural vs. Urban" Georgia Traffic Safety Facts for more information regarding traffic crashes in rural areas.

Table 7: One-Year Comparison of Georgia Regions

Category

2020

Atlanta Region

(10 counties)

2021

Change Number Percent

Other Urban Region

(31 counties)

2020

2021

Change Number Percent

Total Traffic Fatalities 513 583 70

+14% 563 652 89

+16%

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities

303 339 36

+12% 363 442 79

+22%

Unrestrained Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities

123 163 40

+33% 154 185 31

+20%

Motorcyclist Fatalities 67 74

7

+10% 68 75

7

+10%

Pedestrian Fatalities 126 151 25

+20% 92 105 13

+14%

Bicyclist Fatalities

9

3

-6

-67% 14

8

-6

-43%

Alcohol-Related Fatalities

125 132

7

+6% 133 143 10

+8%

Speeding Related Fatalities

118 126

8

+7% 147 144 -3

-2%

Fatalities Involving Large Trucks

66 65

-1

-2% 71 79

8

+11%

Young Drivers Aged

15-to-20 Years Involved in Fatal

56 72

16

+29% 83 81

-2

-2%

Crashes

Older Drivers Aged

65+ Years Involved in 73 81

8

Fatal Crashes

+11% 118 134 16

+14%

Source: FARS 2020 and 2021

2020 588

Rural Region

(118 counties)

2021

Change Number Percent

562 -26

-4%

407 404 -3

-1%

189 210 21

57 45 -12

61 50 -11

9

4

-5

161 116 -45

115 99 -16

97 100

3

+11%
-21% -18% -56% -28%
-14%
+3%

77 76

-1

-1%

122 125

3

+2%

Additional Georgia Traffic Safety Facts by Emphasis Area

Below are selected key findings from the 2021 Georgia Traffic Safety Facts (GTSF) by emphasis area. To access the full detailed report for each emphasis area, click the document icon ( ) next to the subsection title.

RISKY DRIVING Drivers involved in fatal crashes with a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were 1.9 times more likely to be speeding and 3.2 times more likely to be unrestrained compared to other tested drivers with no alcohol in their system. Nearly 1 out of 5 speeding drivers (18 percent) had a speeding conviction, and 6 percent of alcohol-impaired and/or drugged drivers had a DWI conviction (driving while intoxicated or impaired) previously recorded within five years prior to the fatal crash.
DISTRACTED DRIVING 54 percent of all motor vehicle traffic crashes had at least one confirmed or suspected distracted driver. 75 percent of all distraction-related crashes involved at least one other vehicle besides the distracted driver.

MOTORCYCLES There were 194 motorcyclist fatalities that occurred in motor vehicle traffic crashes on Georgia roadways the largest number of motorcyclist fatalities recorded in the past decade. Nearly half (47 percent) of motorcycle operators involved in crashes were riding without a valid motorcycle designation (Class M or MP) on their driver's license. The total motorcycle-related hospitalization and emergency room charges in Georgia was $252 million.
LARGE TRUCKS 14 percent of all traffic fatalities involved at least one large truck-- 244 persons fatally injured. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of traffic fatalities involving large trucks increased by 4 percent, and the rate of fatalities involving large trucks per VMT traveled by large trucks increased by 7 percent.

RURAL AND URBAN COMPARISON 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. The "Observational Survey of Seat Belt Use in Georgia" also reported that pickup trucks in the rural counties had the lowest restraint use among all PV occupants (75.2 percent) in Georgia. Vans in urban counties had the highest restraint use among all PV occupants (90.5 percent) in Georgia.
NON-MOTORISTS Pedestrians
In 2021, more than three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities (76 percent) and more than half (57 percent) of pedestrian injuries occurred on roadways with posted speed limits at or above 40 mph. The motor vehicle-related, pedestrian hospitalization and emergency room visit charges were $188 million for Georgia residents.
Bicyclists There was an average of 23 bicyclist fatalities in traffic crashes each year between 2017-2021. The motor vehicle-related, bicyclist hospitalization and emergency room visit charges were $55 million for Georgia residents.

OCCUPANT PROTECTION Unrestrained PV occupants of all ages are nearly
5 times more likely to be fatally injured compared to restrained occupants. Historically, rural counties have a higher percentage of unrestrained PV fatalities and serious injuries among occupants of all ages (children and adults) compared to the Atlanta region and other urban regions.
OLDER DRIVERS (55 Years and Older) Older drivers (55+ years) accounted for 35
percent of all licensed drivers, 26 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, and 19 percent of all drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes. The total motor vehicle crash-related hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 65+ years was $292 million.
YOUNG DRIVERS (15-20 Years) There were 215 young drivers aged 15-to-20
years old involved in fatal crashes a 4 percent increase since 2020 (9 more drivers). The total motor vehicle crash-related hospitalization and emergency room charges among Georgia residents 15-to-20 years was $206 million.

Georgia Traffic Safety Performance Measures
Georgia's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) vision is "Toward Zero Deaths", and the ultimate goal is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities on Georgia roadways. Collaboration and coordination (galvanized by the SHSP) ensure uniformity among the prioritized traffic safety goals in Georgia, encourage a team effort in implementing safety programs, and promote diversity in field disciplines and the representation of stakeholder groups. As such, the SHSP, Highway Safety Plan by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, and Highway Safety Improvement Plan by the Georgia Department of Transportation track the following traffic safety performance measures and ensure that the state goals and target values are in alignment.

Traffic Safety Performance Measures

Traffic Fatalities

Total (C-1) Rural Roadways* Urban Roadways* Unknown

Serious Injuries (C-2)
Serious Injuries per 100 Million VMT (HSIP, C-2a)

Fatalities Per 100 Million VMT

Total (C-3) Rural Roadways* Urban Roadways*

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities (All Seat Positions)

Total Restrained Unrestrained (C-4) Unknown

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities (BAC=.08+) (C-5)

Speeding-Related Fatalities (C-6)

Motorcyclist Total (C-7)

Fatalities

Helmeted

Un-helmeted (C-8)

Unknown

Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes

Total Aged 15-20 Aged Under 21 (C-9) Aged 65+

Pedestrian Fatalities (C-10)

Bicyclist Fatalities (C-11)

Non-Motorist Serious Injuries and Fatalities (HSIP, C-12)

Observed Seat Belt Use (B-1)

2012 1,192
589 603
0 **

2013 1,180
557 621
2 **

2014 1,164
462 702
0 **

2015 1,432
565 867
0 4,896

Year

2016 2017

1,556 1,540

603 594

953 946

0

0

5,206 5,370

2018 1,505
508 997
0 6,401

2019 1,492
520 972
0 7,308

2020
1,658 645
1,010 3
7,606

2021
1,797 598
1,199 0
8,937

**

**

**

4.15 4.28 4.25 4.79 5.53 6.58 7.41

1.11 1.08 1.04 1.21 1.27 1.23 1.14 1.12 1.43 1.49

1.68 2.18 1.79 1.98 2.01

2 1.55 1.63 2.23 1.98

0.83 0.74 0.82 0.97 1.03

1 1.01 0.96 1.16 1.33

829 812 795 1,008 1,047 1,056 994 990 1,065 1,182

394 350 376 488 484 488 448 514 502 515

368 377 363 411 472 464 441 385 461 555

67

85

56 109

91 104 105

91 102 112

295 296 279 358 378 357 379 355 373 391

180 197 213 268 266 248 268 260

134 116 137 152 172 139 154 170

125 107 124 138 154 119 134 151

8

5

8

10

9

18

16

15

1

4

5

4

9

2

4

4

1,676 1,621 1,622 2,043 2,154 2,283 2,149 2,184

4

0

4

3

6

6

0

3

154 156 145 165 182 188 192 169

205 198 193 293 300 308 272 313

167 176 163 194 232 253 262 236

17

28

19

23

29

15

30

21

380 186 166
14 6
2,359 205
209 299
279 32

369 185 165
14 6
2,617 215
223 341
306 15

**

**

**

594 676 755 735 752 740 988

92

96

97

97

97

97

96

96

96

95

* See data considerations for the definition or rural/urban roadways. Source: FARS 2021

Data Definitions and Considerations:
The U.S. Department of Transportation's classifications of rural areas (and thus rural roadway segments) are based on land use at the census tract level and categorized as urban, urbanized, or rural. Rural roads are different from rural counties. Rural counties are based on population estimates obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey at the county level, not the census tract level. Rural counties have a population of less than 50,000 based on the most recent census available. As a result of the differentiation in the definitions, urban road systems can be located within rural counties.
For the purposes of this fact sheet, rural populations are determined by the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey, where counties with less than 50,000 persons are considered rural areas.
A traffic crash is defined as an incident that involved one or more motor vehicles where at least one vehicle was in transport and the crash originated on a public trafficway, such as a road or highway. Crashes that occurred on private property, including parking lots and driveways, are excluded.
Fatal crashes are defined as crashes that involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and that result in the death of a motorist or a non-motorist within 30 days of the crash.
Serious injuries are those suspected serious injuries reported by law enforcement and used when any injury, other than a fatal injury, prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or normally continuing the activities the person was capable of before the injury occurred.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the Federal agency responsible for the use of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) in the United States, has developed a clinical modification (CM) of the classification for morbidity (EMS, trauma, hospital, and ER data) purposes. ICD-10 Codes used were: V30-V39 (.4-.9), V40-V49 (.4-.9), V50-V59 (.4-.9),V60-V69 (.4-.9), V70-V79 (.4-.9), V81.1 V82.1,V83-V86 (.0-.3), V20V28 (.3-.9),V29 (.4-.9),V12-V14 (.3-.9),V19 (.4-.6), V02-V04 (.1,.9),V09.2,V80 (.3-.5),V87(.0-.8),V89.2
Passenger vehicles are defined as passenger cars, and light trucks (including vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks).
The Department of Driver Services provided licensing data for the 2019 year. Licensing data by age, county, and license type was not obtained for the 2018 year. The driver licensing database is a live database system and represents the information at a point in time on the date of extraction.
Contributing circumstances capture the precrash elements or improper actions of persons (motorcycle operators, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists) that may have caused the crash. Contributing factors in fatal and nonfatal crashes are often underreported in the datasets. There is at least one record per person involved in a fatal crash (FARS Data), and some missing records for persons involved in motor vehicle traffic crashes (Crash Data).
Rural counties are counties that have a population of less than 50,000 according to the United States Decennial Census of 2020 or any future such census (O.C.G.A. Section 31-6-2). This is different than roadway classifications, where urban road systems can be located in urban clusters (or metropolitan areas) of at least 2,500 persons within the rural counties.
Police crash reports are reviewed in a post hoc analysis by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Georgia Department of Transportation using a jointly developed definition of suspected distracted driving based on multiple factors. The imputation of suspected distracted drivers includes drivers that indicate emotional distress and evidence of driver inattention and distraction. The imputation removes driver contributing factors that include drug/alcohol impairment, sleepiness/drowsiness, aggressive/reckless driving, and speeding. The CODES Analytical Reference Guide is available upon request.

For More Information:
Other 2021 traffic safety facts are available online at the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety and Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation Systems (CODES):
Risky Driving Distracted Driving Non-Motorists (Pedestrians and Bicyclists) Occupant Protection Rural Roads Motorcycles Older Drivers Young Drivers Large Trucks

The suggested APA format citation for this document is:
Georgia Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System. (2023, October). Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2021: 2021 data. (Georgia Traffic Safety Facts). Atlanta, GA: Governor's Office of Highway Safety.