US 278 in Georgia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 80 fatal crashes on US 278 in Georgia killed 84 people. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 8 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 13 counties of Georgia. All fatal crashes in Georgia.
Deaths on US 278 in Georgia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 8 |
| 2023 | 22 | 22 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 13 | 13 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 11 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 278 in Georgia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
DeKalb County County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 24 deaths. DeKalb, Paulding and Polk counties together held 64% of fatal crashes in US 278 in Georgia from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 78%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeKalb County | 4 | 23 | 24 |
| 2 | Paulding County | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| 3 | Polk County | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| 4 | Richmond County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Greene County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 278 in Georgia
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan13.8%
- Feb10.0%
- Mar8.8%
- Apr6.2%
- May13.8%
- Jun2.5%
- Jul5.0%
- Aug11.2%
- Sep2.5%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov8.8%
- Dec8.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 278 in Georgia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a pedestrian in 30%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a rollover in 3.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 48% |
| Pedestrian | 24 | 30% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 18% |
| Rollover | 3 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 278 in Georgia compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 18% of fatal crashes in US 278 in Georgia from 2015 to 2024, below the Georgia share of 20%; speeding in 13%, below the Georgia share of 19%; a hit-and-run in 6.2%, about the Georgia share; a driver recorded as distracted in 2.5%, below the Georgia share of 4.2%; 45% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Georgia share of 49%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Georgia. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 278 | Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 23% | 36% | below the Georgia share |
| At or near an intersection | 40% | 24% | above the Georgia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 37% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 20% | below the Georgia share |
| Speeding | 13% | 19% | below the Georgia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.5% | 4.2% | below the Georgia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 49% | below the Georgia share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.2% | 5.3% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 12% | above the Georgia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 29% | 17% | above the Georgia share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in US 278 in Georgia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 278 in Georgia?
- 80 fatal crashes killed 84 people on US 278 in Georgia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 8 deaths.
- Where on US 278 in Georgia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- DeKalb County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 24 deaths. Paulding County was second with 15.
Other roads in Georgia with a page
- I-16
- I-20
- I-285
- I-75
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 1
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 124
- State Highway 136
- State Highway 138
All fatal crashes in Georgia, with every road ranked.
Where the US 278 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 278 in Georgia (filed under 38 spellings, such as "US-278", "US-278 / COVINGTON HWY", "US-278 / D L HOLLOWELL PKWY", "US-278 / SR-10"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.