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.