2018 - 42,
2019 - 36,
2020 - 45,
2021 - 52, and
2022 - 25.
With more people heading back to work locations, it seems like we're right on track to see at least 50 people killed in accidents on local highways this year unless people slow down and obey the driving laws.
The high price of gasoline may also contribute to fewer crashes because more people are staying home.
A recent fatality reported by Cobb County Police Department’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Unit occurred on Piedmont Road at Bob Bettis Road, Friday, May 27, 2022 at 11:26 a.m. The incident occurred between a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by 25-year-old Graham Dobbs of Rockmart, and a gray 2022 Kawasaki EX400 motorcycle, driven by 17-year-old Gabriel McLachlan of Kennesaw. McLachlan was pronounced deceased at the scene by personnel from the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dobbs was not injured in the crash.
The police press release did not indicate whether the accident was a result of high speeds, and the crash remains under investigation.
When asked what members of the community can do to lessen the number of fatal crashes, Sergeant Wayne Delk of the Cobb County Police Public Information Office response follows:
"The best thing the community can do is to slow down and obey the rules of the road when driving. We regularly post traffic safety tips on our social media (Traffic Tip Tuesday) to keep the motoring public informed of traffic laws. And our Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) unit as well as our Motorcycle unit work in areas that are known to have speeding motorists in an attempt to curtail the number of speed-related crashes.
"This summer, as in summers past, our department is participating in “100 Days of Summer HEAT”, a state-sponsored program to address aggressive driving and speeding on our roadways. Speeding and D.U.I. continue to be the biggest contributors to fatalities not only in Cobb County, but also across the state. For more information about the state’s programs regarding traffic enforcement and safety please reach out to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).
"We are proud participants in the GOHS Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) program, and we remain committed to not only enforcing traffic laws but also to informing and educating the public every chance we get. Sometimes that education comes during a traffic stop on the side of the road and might also include a citation for a traffic violation."
