According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2023 study data, there were 40,901 motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. throughout the year.
Around 4% (1,615) of those fatalities occurred in Georgia. Of the Peach State’s 159 counties, five made up 27% of all Georgia’s fatalities, with 436 fatalities.
During this study, we’ll focus on those five counties in question and dig into the details around the main factors behind the fatality numbers: speeding, drunk driving, and unbelted or unhelmeted vehicle occupants.
The Five Worst Driving Counties In Georgia
Before we get into the data behind the numbers, here are the five counties that make up 27% of all Georgia’s motor vehicle fatalities, plus the raw fatality numbers for each county.
- DeKalb 151 (motor vehicle fatalities)
- Fulton 112
- Gwinnett 67
- Cobb 54
- Richmond 52
Fatality Numbers By Gender And Age Range
Of Georgia’s 1,615 motor vehicle fatalities, 1,131 (70%) were male, while 480 (30%) were female. This aligns with national trends, with men generally far more likely to indulge risky driving behaviors (speeding, drunk driving, not wearing a seatbelt or helmet). And specific age ranges also carry disproportionate risk.
When it comes to the five counties in Georgia with the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities, adults aged 25-34 represented the biggest single age-group share (22%) of victims. This significant risk to young adult drivers is due to a number of factors, including comparatively more hours at the wheel, plus a tendency to exhibit risky driving behavior.
The 35-64 year-old demographic also represents a substantial overall fatality share (43%), which reflects many collective hours spent on the road for work or social reasons.
16-24 year-olds comprised 17% of fatalities, underscoring their driving inexperience, while adults 65 and over (14% of fatalities) were susceptible to waning physical capability and comparatively slow reaction times. Children under the age of 16 made up just 3.5% of the total, spending far less time on the road and benefiting from child safety seat protection.
Overall, study data makes it clear that the drivers in the five counties in question are at most risk are adults in their prime driving years, particularly those at the younger end of the scale. And it’s not just a matter of age: time of day (or night) is also key.
Night Driving Means Added Danger
Of the 436 total fatalities across the five Georgia counties, 310 occurred at night: 71% of all road deaths. This confirms that driving at night is substantially riskier, mainly due to things like low visibility, tired drivers, and a significantly higher likelihood of drunk driving.
DeKalb County’s 151 fatalities makes it the deadliest of the five counties; it also has the highest number of nighttime deaths (112), considerably more than the next highest county (Fulton: 78 nighttime deaths). This suggests some significant road-related or behavioral issues in both counties, particularly DeKalb.
A higher proportion of fatalities at night is a consistent feature in all counties. In each case, nighttime deaths outnumber daytime ones – usually by a significant margin. Such data could be important when it comes to focusing policy efforts on improving road safety. Particularly when we consider that some of the key determining fatality factors are most in play, such as drunk driving.
Drunk Driving
By using a blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold of 0.08 or higher (the legal point in the U.S. after which someone is defined as ‘alcohol impaired’), we can see that drunk driving is a significant fatality factor across the five Georgia counties.
Of the 436 five-county fatalities, 124 (28% of cases) involved a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or greater. This means that more than 1 in 4 deadly crashes involved a drunk driver.
DeKalb County suffered the highest number of drunk driving fatalities (45), a figure that represented 30% of all its fatal crashes. Fulton (31) and Gwinnett (20) counties were next on the list, both numbers representing over 25% of all motor vehicle fatalities. Richmond (15) and Cobb (13) counties, despite suffering the lowest overall fatality counts, both featured a significant percentage of drivers with a BAC of over 0.08 (24% and 29%, respectively).
These figures highlight the enduring danger of drunk driving in Georgia, particularly in counties that feature a high volume of traffic and an urban nightlife scene. And drunk driving isn’t the only significant issue when it comes to danger on Georgia roads: speeding is another.
Speeding Fatalities
According to our study data, speeding is a notable contributing factor when it comes to motor vehicle crashes across the five Georgia counties in question. 89 of the 436 total yearly fatalities were down to speeding: 20%, or 1 in 5. Fulton County features the most speeding-related fatalities (35), which represented 31% of its total, the highest proportion among the five counties.
DeKalb – despite having the highest overall fatality count of the five counties – suffered a relatively low number of speeding fatalities (22 of its 151 crash deaths, or 15%). Gwinnett’s speeding fatality number was 16 from 67 overall (24%), while Cobb and Richmond counties each saw 8 speeding fatalities (both representing around 15% of the overall numbers).
So, speeding remains a significant risk factor, especially in urban counties like Fulton, which emphasizes the need for targeted enforcement and increased public safety efforts around speed-related driving behavior. And Georgia drivers must also confront another (even more significant) issue: failure to wear a seatbelt or helmet, and a high subsequent number of fatalities.
Unbelted and Unhelmeted Fatalities
Our data tells us that seatbelt and helmet use is of critical importance regarding fatal crashes across the five Georgia counties under consideration. 107 of the 285 recorded fatalities (38%) were down to not wearing either a helmet or seatbelt, whereas 126 (44%) of those who died due to a crash were fully protected during the fatal accident. This data suggests that a significant number of drivers and occupants would still be alive had they properly observed available safety measures.
Fulton County suffered the highest number of unrestrained or unhelmeted fatalities: 36 of 75 deaths, nearly half of its crash death numbers. DeKalb also posted high unprotected numbers (28), plus a high number of unknown cases (26), which makes it hard to fully measure overall safety compliance. Ultimately, though, the data reinforces the importance of seat belts and helmets on the road.
The Influence Of Populous Cities
As we examine our five Georgia counties, it’s important that we consider the influence of their most populous cities.
Atlanta (primarily in Fulton County, partly in DeKalb) is Georgia’s largest city and a major urban hub, well-known for its heavy traffic, nightlife, and commuter congestion. All of these factors contribute to high rates of nighttime, speed-related, and drunk driving crashes.
Augusta, Richmond County’s main city, is also subject to a high percentage of nighttime and drunk driving fatalities, likely due to its variety of regional events and dense road networks.
In Lawrenceville (Gwinnett), Marietta (Cobb), and Sandy Springs (Fulton), high populations combined with suburban sprawl and frequent highway access likely contribute to crash trends involving speeding and unrestrained drivers.
All of these populous cities experience heavy traffic, long commute times, and high exposure to risk. This means they represent a key barometer regarding the nature and cause of traffic fatalities in their respective counties.
The Five Georgia Counties vs. The National Average
If we compare our five Georgia counties with national fatal crash averages regarding speeding, alcohol, and unbelted/unhelmeted occupants, some clear trends emerge.
The national drunk driving fatality average percentage is 30%, with all five counties fairly close to that benchmark. Gwinnett County is a good example: its drunk driving average is 29.9%, with DeKalb (29.8%), Richmond (28.8%), and Fulton (27.7%) all similarly high. Cobb County (24.1%) posts a slightly lower average. Yet, the numbers confirm that drunk driving remains a consistent and serious issue in both Georgia and across the U.S.
Nationally, 29% of motor vehicle fatalities involve speeding, but only Fulton County exceeds that percentage (31.3%). Of the other counties, Gwinnett (23.9%), DeKalb (14.6%), Cobb (14.8%), and Richmond (15.4%) all fall well below the national average. So, speeding is clearly a less prominent issue in the five Georgia counties than it is nationwide.
Unrestrained occupant fatality figures represent the most striking Georgia/U.S. differential. Nationally, only 8.1% of fatal crash victims were unrestrained. In Georgia’s five high-fatality counties, that percentage rapidly rises.
Fulton County reports an alarming 48%, with Cobb not far behind at 42.9%, Gwinnett at 35.3%, Richmond at 33.3%, and DeKalb at 29.8%. These figures suggest a critical safety compliance gap in seat belt and helmet use across these counties (and Georgia), and surely mean targeted education and enforcement are urgently needed.
Comparing The Five Counties
Based on the data across all key crash factors – drunk driving, speeding, and the use of seatbelts and helmets – DeKalb County consistently ranks as the most dangerous. It unequivocally features the worst driving behaviors of all five counties.
DeKalb not only had the highest total number of motor vehicle fatalities (151), but also led in drunk driving fatalities (45) and nighttime crash deaths (112), which account for a staggering 74% of its total fatalities. Additionally, DeKalb seatbelt usage is a concern, with 28 unbelted or unhelmeted fatalities, plus a large number (26) of unknown fatality numbers, many of which could be a matter of compromised safety.
Fulton County is the second-worst county for motor vehicle fatalities (112), and the worst for speeding-related deaths (35), which represent 31% of its fatal crashes. Fulton also had the highest number of unbelted or unhelmeted fatalities (36), which indicates a troubling disregard for basic safety measures.
Gwinnett County, despite relatively few total fatalities (67), had the highest proportion of drunk driving crashes (30%) and a high percentage of unbelted/unhelmeted victims, confirming a prevalence of risky behavior.
And while Cobb and Richmond counties both reported low overall numbers, both featured 24–29% of drunk driving fatalities, with around 15% of their fatality numbers due to speeding.
Ultimately, while all five counties are subject to troubling crash patterns, DeKalb carries the worst combination of risk factors, with the most aggressive, impaired, and unsafe drivers in Georgia.
Summary
In 2023, Georgia accounted for 1,615 of the nation’s 40,901 motor vehicle fatalities, about 4% of the total, with just five counties (DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Richmond) responsible for 27% of all traffic deaths in the state. These high-fatality counties are home to some of Georgia’s most populous cities (Atlanta, Augusta, Marietta, Lawrenceville, and Sandy Springs), all of which are busy urban areas with dense traffic, packed highways, and lifestyle factors that compound crash risk.
Men accounted for 70% of fatalities, with a high concentration of deaths among adults aged 25 to 64, the group most active on the roads. Night driving was particularly dangerous: 71% of fatal crashes occurred after dark. DeKalb County stood out as the most dangerous of the five counties: it suffered the most motor vehicle deaths overall, the most alcohol-related deaths, and the most nighttime crashes. Fulton County had the most speeding-related fatalities (31% of its total) and the highest share of victims not wearing a belt or helmet (48%). Gwinnett had the highest percentage of drunk driving crashes (30%); both Cobb and Richmond showed high levels of helmet and belt non-compliance, as well as moderate rates of drunk driving.
❝A significant number of drivers and occupants would still be alive had they properly observed available safety measures.❞
If we compare the five counties to national average percentages for speeding (29%), drunk driving (30%), and drivers not wearing a seatbelt or helmet (8.1%), they all fall far below the norm for speeding, align with the national average for drunk driving, and greatly exceed the national average when it comes to belts and helmets.
Our findings tell us that while speeding is comparatively under control in Georgia, a pervasive failure by the state’s drivers when it comes to wearing a seatbelt or helmet is a major safety issue. While all five counties in question would benefit from safety intervention regarding all risky driving behaviors, getting its drivers to belt up and put on their helmet would be a great start to saving a high number of Georgia lives.
At John Foy & Associates, we’re personal injury experts. If you’ve suffered an injury due to a car accident, don’t hesitate to get in touch. And remember: you don’t pay unless we win.
Data Sources
NHTSA
Advancing Georgia’s Counties
