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Polk County
Residents 44,610Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 89Latest 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 89 people killed in 86 fatal crashes in Polk County, Georgia, between 2015 and 2024, 6 of them in 2024.
With 44,610 residents, that is 20.8 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 41% higher than the Georgia rate of 14.8 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 5% from 85 in 2005–2014 to 89 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 20.2% against 11.2% for Georgia.
33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Sunday was the most common day (19%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 5% (85 in 2005–2014, 89 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
| Measure | Polk | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 20.8 | 14.8 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 13.4 | 12.5 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 89 | 15,801 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 86 | 14,652 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +5% | +14% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 50% | 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 44,610 in 2024.
Factors
"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
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Fatal crashes in Polk County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 86 crashes with a known hour and weekday.
By weekday
Light condition
Road type
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
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Polk
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 278 | US highway | 13 | 80 | 84 | 16% | 14% |
| 2 | US Route 27 | US highway | 9 | 131 | 143 | 19% | 14% |
| 3 | State Route 1 | State highway | 8 | 119 | 130 | 14% | 8% |
| 4 | State Route 6 | State highway | 7 | 62 | 66 | 11% | 15% |
| 5 | State Route 101 | State highway | 7 | 33 | 34 | 15% | 21% |
| 6 | State Route 113 | State highway | 4 | 26 | 26 | 31% | 12% |
| 7 | State Route 100 | State highway | 3 | 29 | 31 | 17% | 17% |
| 8 | US Route 76 | US highway | 1 | 28 | 30 | 14% | 18% |
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
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Drinking-driver crashes | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 1–2 | 13.4 | GA 2024 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 26.9 | GA 2023 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 17.9 | GA 2022 |
| 2021 | 12 | 13 | 1–2 | 29.1 | GA 2021 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 26.9 | GA 2020 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 | 1–2 | 17.9 | GA 2019 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 1–2 | 11.2 | GA 2018 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 15.7 | GA 2017 |
| 2016 | 12 | 13 | 1–2 | 29.1 | GA 2016 |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 11.2 | GA 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 Polk County, Georgia?
6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in 2024; 51 over 2020–2024 and 89 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Polk compare with Georgia?
20.8 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 Polk involved alcohol?
14.0% 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 motorcyclists at 20.2%.
Which roads in Polk see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 278 (13 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 27 (9 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 1 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Polk?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (33% of crashes) and on Sundays (19%); 46.5% 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.