Macon ranked 3rd in nation for fatal car crashes. Here’s how to stay safe on the road

Chelsea Madden
·2 min read

The streets of Macon are beautiful and historic, filled with rich history and endless stories from over the decades.

However, the streets of Macon are also some of the most dangerous in the country.

The data

According to a recent study by Dismuke Law and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Macon had alarmingly high fatality car crash rates from 2017 to 2021.

Specifically, the data showed that Macon had a fatality rate of 22.12 per 100,000 people, ranking among the top 10 cities with the highest fatality rate across America.

In fact, Macon ranked the third deadliest in the nation with 171 people killed between the years of 2017 and 2021.

The deadliest city on the list was Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with 284 deaths in a population of 222,854 and ranked at number two on the list was Memphis, Tennessee.

Rounding out the top 10:

  • At number 4: St. Louis, Missouri

  • 5: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • 6: Birmingham, Alabama

  • 7: Knoxville, Tennessee

  • 8: Detroit, Michigan

  • Tied at number 9: Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Bernardino, California

  • 10: Little Rock, Arkansas

Road safety tips

Here are some road safety tips from Scholle Law in Duluth, Georgia:

  1. Drive defensively. Remember that driving is not a right, it’s a privilege. To earn this privilege, you should always drive defensively and be attentive to others around you. Learning to watch and quickly react to other drivers is just as important as being a skillful driver who abides by traffic safety laws.

  2. Do a safety check. Walk around the vehicle looking for fluid leaks. Check the tires to see if they are properly inflated. Start the car and check the headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. Driving with headlights on will increase the visibility of your vehicle. Also, take time to check and adjust mirrors and seats before your vehicle is in motion. Adjust your left and right side mirrors so that you cannot see your vehicle in the mirrors when you are sitting in the driver’s seat. This helps reduce your blind spots.

  3. Wear your seatbelt. When you get into the vehicle, buckle up.

  4. Watch for other drivers. Watch for tailgaters, aggressive and reckless drivers. Tailgaters who don’t leave enough room to stop. A rule of thumb for a safe braking distance is one car length for every 10 mph. And remember, heavier vehicles take longer to stop.

  5. Adjust your speed and mind the weather. Don’t assume the roads are safe for the speed limit. In low-visibility or other severe weather conditions, it’s good practice to reduce your speed and give yourself more space. It takes longer to stop on wet or icy pavement.

  6. Obey road signs and signals.

  7. Avoid distracted driving.

Are you surprised that Macon is a dangerous city for drivers? Comment below and let us know your thoughts.