Fatal Roads

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Heard County

Residents 12,119Deaths 2024 1–2Deaths 2015–2024 40Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 40 people killed in 38 fatal crashes in Heard County, Georgia, between 2015 and 2024, fewer than three of them in 2024.

With 12,119 residents, that is 34.1 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 2.3 times the Georgia rate of 14.8 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 38% from 29 in 2005–2014 to 40 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 26.3% against 19.4% for Georgia.

32% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Friday was the most common day (18%).

1–2deaths in 20241–2 fatal crashes
17deaths, 2020–202440 over ten years
34.1per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 8.3
+130%vs Georgia ratestate 14.8 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

059197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 1–2 deaths1976: 1–2 deaths1977: 1–2 deaths1978: 4 deaths1979: 3 deaths1980: 3 deaths1981: 6 deaths1982: 1–2 deaths1983: 1–2 deaths1984: 1–2 deaths1985: 3 deaths1986: 1–2 deaths1987: 4 deaths1988: 1–2 deaths1989: 6 deaths1990: 6 deaths1991: 6 deaths1992: 4 deaths1993: 1–2 deaths1994: 1–2 deaths1995: 1–2 deaths1996: 0 deaths1997: 6 deaths1998: 4 deaths1999: 1–2 deaths2000: 3 deaths2001: 1–2 deaths2002: 7 deaths2003: 5 deaths2004: 5 deaths2005: 4 deaths2006: 3 deaths2007: 4 deaths2008: 3 deaths2009: 1–2 deaths2010: 1–2 deaths2011: 6 deaths2012: 4 deaths2013: 1–2 deaths2014: 1–2 deaths2015: 3 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 1–2 deaths2018: 9 deaths2019: 5 deaths2020: 1–2 deaths2021: 4 deaths2022: 6 deaths2023: 5 deaths2024: 1–2 deaths
People killed in crashes in Heard County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 1–2 deaths.

Ten-year total up 38% (29 in 2005–2014, 40 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Georgia and the nation

MeasureHeardGeorgiaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202434.114.811.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20248.312.511.5
Deaths, 2015–20244015,801389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20243814,652358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+38%+14%+7%
Crashes on rural roads100%36%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 12,119 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking13.2%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver26.3%
Pedestriansshare of people killed7.5%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed5%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used52.9%
In darknesscrashes after dark42.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads100%

tick marks the Georgia share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Heard County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 37 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday18%
Saturday18%
Sunday16%
Wednesday16%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Thursday11%

Light condition

Daylight55%
Dark, not lighted42%
Dawn3%
Dark, lighted0%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector32%
Other principal arterial26%
Local24%
Minor arterial13%
Minor collector5%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Georgia share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear82%
Cloudy11%
Rain5%
Fog, smog or smoke3%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Heard

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 1State highway611913014%8%
2State Route 100State highway6293117%17%
3State Route 34State highway6212124%5%
4US Route 27US highway413114319%14%
5State Route 219State highway1202225%25%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20241–21–20—GA 2024
202355041.3GA 2023
2022661–249.5GA 2022
202144033.0GA 2021
20201–21–21–2—GA 2020
201945041.3GA 2019
2018991–274.3GA 2018
20171–21–20—GA 2017
2016441–233.0GA 2016
20151–23024.8GA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Heard County, Georgia?

fewer than three people died in fewer than three fatal crashes in 2024; 17 over 2020–2024 and 40 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Heard compare with Georgia?

34.1 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 14.8 for Georgia and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Heard involved alcohol?

13.2% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 19.6% in Georgia. The factor furthest above the state share was speeding at 26.3%.

Which roads in Heard see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 1 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 100 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 34 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Heard?

Most often between noon to 6pm (32% of crashes) and on Fridays (18%); 42.1% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.