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Labor Day weekend traffic deaths down slightly in Georgia

Nine people died in Georgia traffic incidents during the Labor Day weekend travel period.
Nine people died in Georgia traffic incidents during the Labor Day weekend travel period.
By Steve Burns
Sept 5, 2017

Nine people died in traffic crashes statewide during the Labor Day weekend travel period, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said Tuesday.

That’s one less fatality than in the same period in 2016, the agency said. The 78-hour period began at 6 p.m. Friday and ran through 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Five of the deaths were reported by local agencies: Atlanta Police Department, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Forest Park Police Department and Marietta Police Department.

Other key traffic-crash categories also showed year-to-year declines, the DPS said.

In 2017, the Georgia State Patrol said it investigated 398 traffic crashes (down from 496 in 2016) that resulted in 206 injuries (down from 274) during the Labor Day weekend.

Also, 248 people were arrested on DUI charges, down from 320, while 8,193 citations and 11,420 warnings were issued, compared to 8,255 and 10,901, respectively, according to the agency.

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