GSP: 13 Fatalities in Georgia Over Christmas Weekend

The Georgia Christmas Holiday Traffic Fatality Count is 13 as of 12 am Tuesday morning according to the Georgia State Patrol.

That includes the two people killed Monday in Hart County and another death in Rincon, Ga.

This year’s Christmas holiday travel period began Friday, December 23, at 6 p.m., and ended Monday, December 26, at 11:59 p.m.

The New Year’s holiday travel period gets underway Friday, December 30, at 6:00 p.m., and ends at 11:59 p.m., on Monday, January 2, 2023. Both are 78 hours long.

Georgia State Patrol Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance (MCCD) Officers across the state will continue their high visibility patrols on the heaviest travel days to remind motorists to drive safely.

In addition to increased traffic, the end of the year is also the time when Troopers and Officers see an increase in the number of impaired drivers on Georgia’s roads.

Colonel Chris. C. Wright, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) said last year’s Christmas holiday travel period resulted in 195 drivers being arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), and 254 drivers were arrested during the New Year’s holiday for the same offense.

Wright said if you are caught driving impaired at any time of the year, you will be arrested and you will go to jail.