Thomson, GA, has a fairly safe record for car accidents. McDuffie County sees between 500 and 800 accidents every year. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety classifies only about 100 of those as “serious accidents.” Only a fraction of those accidents happen in Thomson.
Although Thomson does not see a lot of accidents each year, the accidents that do happen tend to cluster around a few roads and intersections.
Here are some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in Thomson, GA.
Accidents in Thomson
Over the past 15 years, Thomson has been the site of 10 traffic fatalities. Two of these deaths resulted from fatal pedestrian accidents.
Some of the most dangerous roads and intersections within the city limits include:
Railroad Street
Railroad Street provides access to many businesses and government buildings in Thomson. It also passes beside many of Thomson’s tourist attractions. As such, locals and tourists alike travel along Railroad Street.
Railroad Street has two intersections that have seen multiple accidents and one fatality each in the past 15 years.
Greenway Street is a major north-south road through the heart of Thomson. The intersection of Railroad Street and Greenway Street brings together two heavily traveled roads.
Despite the volume of cars passing through this intersection, it only has a four-way stop to control traffic. Moreover, the straight, wide streets can lull drivers into going faster than the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour.
White Oak Road/GA-223 connects Thomson to Grovetown. It also provides a fast route to the high school and businesses on the west side of Thomson. This state highway has a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour.
The intersection of Railroad Street and White Oak Road/GA-223 has no protected left-turn lane. As a result, drivers turning onto Railroad Street must sit in an active lane of traffic and turn left across an oncoming lane of traffic.
Similarly, traffic on White Oak Road/GA-223 has no stop sign at the intersection. Drivers turning onto White Oak Road/GA-223 must turn into active traffic lanes. Visibility for these drivers is limited because Railroad Street and White Oak Road/GA-223 intersect at an acute angle.
White Oak Road/GA-223
White Oak Road/GA-223 has more problems than the intersection with Railroad Street. This highway was the site of half of the traffic fatalities in Thomson over the past 15 years.
As you travel east, the speed limit on White Oak Road/GA-223 increases to 45 miles per hour. High speeds lead to accidents, particularly for cars turning onto or off of White Oak Road/GA-223. This highway has no protected left-turn lane or median. As a result, cross-traffic must time turns to avoid approaching traffic.
The intersection between White Oak Road/GA-223 and the Thomson Bypass/GA-17 has seen four traffic fatalities in the past 15 years. In one accident at the intersection in 2019, three people died, and two more were injured. These accidents make this intersection the deadliest in Thomson.
A traffic light controls this intersection. But the Thomson Bypass/GA-17 has a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Drivers often speed on this divided highway because intersections, like the one with White Oak Road/GA-223, occur infrequently.
Both White Oak Road/GA-223 and the Thomson Bypass see heavy traffic. They also get a lot of truck traffic. Heavy traffic combined with a fast speed limit makes this intersection one of the most dangerous places in Thomson.
Accidents on the Outskirts of Thomson
More accidents occur just outside of Thomson than in the city limits. Several highways leading into Thomson saw multiple accidents and multiple fatalities over the past 15 years. Some of the most dangerous places on the outskirts of Thomson include:
The Thomson Bypass/GA-17
Nearly every intersection with the Thomson Bypass/GA-17 has seen accidents. Just outside of Thomson at the intersection between Temple Road and the Thomson Bypass/GA-17, a fatal drunk driving accident in 2013 resulted in one death.
More recently, two people died in a traffic accident at the intersection of the Thomson Bypass and Dallas Dr.
The speed limit on the Thomson Bypass/GA-17 tempts drivers to drive fast, even though traffic crosses the highway at several points. Accidents on the Thomson Bypass/GA-17 usually result from speeding, combined with miscalculations by drivers attempting to cross the highway or turn onto the highway.
Augusta Road/US-78/US-278/GA-10
Augusta Road/US-78/US-278/GA-10 has been the site of three fatal accidents just outside of Thomson. It has the dubious distinction as the only other location of a car accident with more than two fatalities in the past 15 years.
In 2014, a drunk driver killed four people near the intersection of Augusta Road/US-78/US-278/GA-10 and Moose Club Road.
Over the past 15 years, six people have died on Augusta Road/US-78/US-278/GA-10. This highway has a speed limit of 55 miles per hour, but it only has one lane in each direction, and it has no median. This encourages drivers to take unnecessary risks when they’re attempting to pass slower vehicles.
The most dangerous section of this highway has no protected left-turn lanes. Anyone turning left across traffic risks a rear-end collision while waiting for traffic to clear.
Washington Road
Washington Road has seen many injuries and three fatalities along the three-mile section of road that connects Thomson to I-20. This road sees a lot of truck and passenger vehicle traffic since Washington Road provides easy access to and from the interstate.
Visitors and locals use this route to access the many businesses on Washington Road.
Washington Road has a speed limit of 45 miles per hour in this particular stretch, but there are few traffic signals in place. As a result, cross-traffic and pedestrians risk getting hit while trying to cross the busy road.
Navigating the Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Thomson, GA
You may not be able to avoid the dangerous roads and highways that Thomson holds. Almost every highway into and out of Thomson has seen at least one fatal accident and many other non-fatal accidents.
However, most accidents in Thomson are the result of driver error. You can substantially reduce your risk of death and injury by slowing down, driving sober, and leaving space between your car and the vehicles around you.
Contact A Skilled Thomson, GA Car Crash Lawyer At Hawk Law Group Today For A Free Initial Consultation
If you’ve had an accident on some of the dangerous roads or intersections in Thomson, GA, contact Hawk Law Group for a free consultation. We’ll listen to the facts of your case and help you to determine your next steps.
