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Georgia Road with the Highest Chance to Get You in a Fatal Accident

Georgia has some dangerous roads. But, really, every state has their danger spots. I’m always extra careful when driving, because even if the roads aren’t super scary, some of the…

Damaged in heavy car accident vehicles after collision on city street crash site.

Getty Images/Bilanol

Getty Images/Bilanol

Georgia has some dangerous roads. But, really, every state has their danger spots. I'm always extra careful when driving, because even if the roads aren't super scary, some of the drivers can be downright crazy. I've learned to drive defensively. But, enough about my driving experiences. Here's the Georgia road with the highest chance to get you in a fatal accident.

MonkeyGeek recently analyzed 4,307 recorded fatal crashes in Georgia from 2018 to 2020 to find which roads are the deadliest in the state. Georgia has 272,662 miles of road, and during their analysis, they looked at 2,404 roads. In the study, they found out that drunk driving was involved in 20% of fatal accidents. That's a lot. In fact, between 2018 and 2020, there were more fatal crashes that had something to do with drunk driving than any other reasons, such as speeding or distracted driving. Drunk driving was involved in 860 incidents. Just don't do it. It's not worth it, and it's deadly. Also, speeding was involved in 18.7% of all fatal accidents that happened in Georgia from 2018 to 2020. That caused 805 deaths.

Finally, if you're wondering about months, October had the highest number of deadly crashes of any month from 2018 to 2020. In October, Georgia tracked 396 fatal accidents. That's about 9.2% of all recorded deadly crashes in Georgia over that period. The next higher numbers came from September and November, which had 394 and 384 fatal accidents, respectively.

Road with the Highest Chance to Get You in a Fatal Accident

So, what's the Georgia road with the highest chance to get you in a fatal accident? It's SR-42 from S. River Industrial Blvd SE to Wylie St. SE. That area is the deadliest stretch of road in Georgia. Between 2018–2020, 12 fatal accidents occurred there. Coming in at No. 2 was I-20 from Exit 71 to Exit 65. Stay safe, friends. Find the full report for Georgia here.

In Georgia, we're blessed to be surrounded by beauty and nature. Last weekend, I went to visit my uncle, who lives off a lake. It was a great time, even though it was pretty cold outside. Still, sitting along the lake and watching the ripples and currents was such a peaceful experience. But, I got to thinking, how dangerous are lakes across America? As it turns out, Georgia has one of the deadliest lakes in all of America.

Before we get to our state, let's look at another state that has lots of lakes: Michigan. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 15 people have already died in the Great Lakes in 2023. Think about the fact that the season hasn't even started yet, and that's pretty incredible. A total of 108 people drowned in the Great Lakes in 2022. Also, a whopping 1,170 people have died in the Great Lakes since 2010. It's a reminder to stay safe out there and take precautions when the waters get rough.

My Michigan Beach has some simple tips to stay safe in the water this year. They say to, "Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
Swim sober." My Michigan Beach also notes that the Great Lakes are freshwater seas, meaning, "the water can change quickly." Find more tips on how to stay safe on the beach this summer here.

Georgia Has One of the Deadliest Lakes in America

Read on for the deadliest lakes in all of America, including one which is right here. Have you visited any of the lakes below? Reach out to us on social media and let us know.

Lake Lanier in Georgia

According to USA By the Numbers, Lake Lanier in Georgia is one of the deadliest lakes in America and the deadliest in Georgia. They note that some believe, "Lake Lanier's murky waters, a bottom littered with tree trunks and other debris, and an abrupt drop in the lake’s floor make it unsafe for swimmers."

Mono Lake in California and on the edge of the Sierra Nevada

According to AZ Animals, the Mono Lake is a dangerous one. They state, "Located in California, it is set towards the east and at the edge of Sierra Nevada." They add that the fact the lake isn’t connected to any other body of water makes it so that "when chemicals get into the lake, they do not flow out but stay there and pollute the water. Sadly, the lake has built up an alarming concentration of arsenic. The water is now poisonous and toxic to humans and animals."

Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona

Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It's located in Nevada and Arizona, and it's just east of Las Vegas. It's dangerous, though. According to Wilk Jeffery’s “Wilks Journal of Travel Medicine,” the most international visitor fatalities has been recorded at Lake Mead. Many of these are drownings or car crashes.

Lake Erie in Michigan and Ohio

Even though Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, it's very dangerous. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, six people have already died in Lake Erie this year. That's even more than Lake Michigan! The reason Lake Erie is dangerous is because it's the shallowest of the Great Lakes, so it can warm and cool faster than other lakes, which can lead to volatile waters and also a major annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake.

Lake Michigan in Michigan and Illinois - This is the No. 1 most dangerous lake in all of America

Multiple sources list Lake Michigan as the deadliest lake in all of the U.S. AZ Animals has the lake listed at No. 1, as does Pond Informer and USA By the Numbers. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, five people have already died in Lake Michigan this year.

What about shipwrecks?

According to AZ Animals, Lake Erie has been home to the most shipwrecks in the U.S. That's creepy! "There are famous tales of shipwrecks on other Great Lakes, such as the haunting true story and song of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior," they state. "But, it is Lake Erie whose icy, cold waters hold the remains of the most shipwrecks – with estimates of 500 – 2,000 wrecks. It is believed to have a greater density of shipwrecks than virtually anywhere in the world – even the Bermuda Triangle."

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.