Hall County Sheriff's Office launches holiday season traffic safety campaign

With traffic fatalities in Hall County this year already ahead of 2019 numbers, the Hall County Sheriff's Office has launched a campaign to remind motorists of safe driving practices. 

Data from the department shows that 25 people had been killed in traffic accidents in the county as of Oct. 24, 2020. The total traffic accident death toll in 2019 was 20. 

"The numbers don’t lie, and with the major holidays around the corner, we just knew that an education and enforcement initiative was imperative in making every effort to save lives on the roads," Sheriff Gerald Couch said in a community statement. "While statistics give us a warning, it’s also critical that we remember the impact of these fatal crashes. The loss of the victims, ranging from children to grandparents, has left painful voids in the lives of their loved ones.”

Derreck Booth, a spokesman for the Hall County Sheriff's Office, said research has shown that a large majority of fatal traffic accidents are the result of unsafe behaviors behind the wheel.

"According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, who assessed statewide fatalities last year, had a pretty interesting statistic that 76% of persons who died on Georgia roadways in traffic accidents last year...died as the result of unsafe behaviors by drivers, and that would include distracted driving...impairments - driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol...and people just driving too fast for conditions," Booth said.

With those three factors in mind, the Hall County Sheriff's Office will place a special emphasis each month for the rest of the year on one of those behaviors. 

Booth said deputies will continue their regular traffic enforcement efforts, but they will also increase activity in high-traffic areas. 

Booth encouraged community members to follow the sheriff's office social media accounts - HCSO on Facebook and Twitter - to see special messages on each topic.