Towns County Sheriff’s Office Identifies High Accident Locations
July 18 | Posted by editor | News, Towns Tags: Towns County Sheriff’s Office
Hiawassee, GA – Over the past several years our office has been collecting and analyzing data on various crime statistics and auto crash statistics. This has been a concentrated effort to determine areas to implement law enforcement patrols as well as directed traffic enforcement. Our Certification Manager, who also serves as our Intelligence Analyst, has been tracking and mapping crash information.
We use this information to assign deputy patrols to maintain law enforcement presence in high crime areas. We also share this information with the public in an attempt to create public awareness and prevent accidents in areas where data show higher rates of crashes.
Some of the factors to be considered when utilizing “directed traffic enforcement” or concentrated patrols are: contributing factors (i.e. impairment, speed, failure to yield), time of day, weather conditions, location, type of road, day of the week, and traffic volume, among others.
Based on the data collected, Towns County’s high accident locations are: U.S. 76 West, between Anderson Bridge and Young Harris city limits; Highway 76 East between Towns County School and 75 South; and Hwy. 75 South to the county line.
The time of day associated with the highest rate of accident is from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Failure to yield was the highest identifiable contributing factor.
Drivers should be especially careful in those areas specifically mentioned, and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office performs increased patrols in an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents.
In addition, there are an increased number of reported accidents related to texting and driving. It is now a violation of law to text and drive. Parents are encouraged to educate their children and family on the dangers and now legal repercussions associated with texting and driving.
If you have any questions concerning traffic safety or accident prevention, please contact our office at (706) 896-4444. Our staff frequently speaks to school and civic groups concerning a myriad of law enforcement and safety issues. You may call and request this from any deputy or employee.
