Only about 5,500 people live in Waynesboro, GA. But it sits at the crossroads of three state highways and one U.S. highway. This makes Waynesboro an important hub between Augusta and Savannah.
In a typical year, Burke County is the site of about 500 car crashes. About 100 of these crashes cause deaths or serious injuries. This places Burke County above the Georgia average for accidents, fatalities, and serious injuries in similar-sized counties.
More importantly, these crashes cluster around the five major roads that converge in Waynesboro.
If you were injured in a car accident it’s critical that you contact a Waynesboro car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Here are some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in Waynesboro, GA, and how you can navigate them.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections Within Waynesboro’s City Limits
Waynesboro has been the site of seven fatal car accidents within its city limits since 2005. Interestingly, none of these accidents involved pedestrians. None of these accidents involved drunk drivers, either.
Liberty Street/GA-24
Each of these accidents claimed one life, except for an accident on Liberty Street/GA-24 in 2017. Five of the eight traffic fatalities in Waynesboro since 2005 happened on Liberty Street/GA-24. This makes Liberty Street/GA-24 the most dangerous road in Waynesboro.
Outside of Waynesboro, Liberty Street/GA-24 has two lanes in each direction and a protected center turn lane. The posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour. But the wide road makes it easy for drivers to exceed the speed limits on Liberty Street/GA-24.
Speeding is a major problem in less populous areas like Waynesboro. About one-third of the traffic accidents in Waynesboro result from speeding.
Intersection of Liberty Street/GA-24 and 6th Street/GA-56
As Liberty Street/GA-24 enters Waynesboro, the road narrows to two lanes in each direction with no center turn lane. The speed limit drops to 25 miles per hour. You might expect this to lower the risk of accidents, But the only intersection in Waynesboro to see multiple fatal accidents in the past 15 years sits right in this area.
The intersection of Liberty Street/GA-24 and 6th Street/GA-56 is the most dangerous one in Waynesboro. Two fatal car accidents and dozens of injury-only accidents have happened at this intersection since 2005.
The intersection is well-lit and includes a traffic signal with a protected left turn signal. The number of accidents at this intersection defies any simple explanation. The intersection incorporates many of the safety measures that other towns and cities use to fix their dangerous intersections.
But this intersection brings together two of the most heavily traveled roads in Waynesboro. These accidents could merely result from too many vehicles coming together in a space that’s ultimately too small to accommodate them.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections on the Outskirts of Waynesboro, GA
In contrast to the small number of deaths in Waynesboro, dozens of deaths have happened on the roads on Waynesboro’s outskirts.
Locals and travelers use the roads passing into and out of Waynesboro to reach Augusta, Savannah, the South Carolina border, and central Georgia.
Some of the most dangerous roads passing through Waynesboro include:
GA-24
GA-24, also known as Liberty Street in Waynesboro, provides a major east-west route through the region. From Waynesboro, GA-24 runs southeast to Sardis and west to Milledgeville.
From Thompson Bridge Road to Drone Road, GA-24 has seen dozens of car accidents, including fifteen fatal car accidents. These accidents claimed 17 lives, with two of the accidents involving multiple fatalities.
Outside of Waynesboro, this road only provides one lane in each direction and has no center turn lane or median. This forces drivers to move into oncoming traffic when they’re attempting to pass slower vehicles.
The posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour. But the rural surroundings can tempt drivers to speed as they’re approaching and leaving the city.
GA-56
Also known as 6th Street in Waynesboro, GA-56 has been the site of dozens of injuries and seven fatalities in the past fifteen years. GA-56 provides an alternate route for traveling north to Augusta. After it passes through Waynesboro, it runs south to Swainsboro.
Going into and out of Waynesboro, GA-56 has only one lane in each direction and no center lane or median strip. This means that drivers risk hitting oncoming traffic any time they pass slow-moving vehicles.
GA-80
GA-80 runs east toward the Savannah River and the South Carolina border. From Waynesboro, it turns northwest to Athens.
This road has seen five fatal accidents and over 20 injury-only accidents in the past fifteen years. Along with GA-24, GA-80 has the distinction of seeing two accidents with multiple fatalities.
GA-80 is a two-lane undivided highway with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Speeding frequently happens along this road, while passing requires risky maneuvers into oncoming traffic.
US-25
US-25, which converges with Liberty Street in Waynesboro, provides a major route from Brunswick, GA, to Cincinnati, OH. Sitting just outside of Waynesboro, US-25 has seen 14 fatal car accidents.
This major highway provides two lanes in each direction that are divided by a median strip. This allows drivers to pass safely but encourages speeding.
The posted speed limit is 65 miles per hour. However, the highway has no traffic signals for cross-traffic. This puts drivers at risk when they need to cross US-25 or merge into traffic on US-25.
US-25 Bypass
The US-25 Bypass is a short highway for drivers on US-25 who want to travel around Waynesboro, rather than passing through it. The US-25 Bypass is only about three miles long. But it has been the site of three fatal accidents and dozens of injury-only accidents over the past fifteen years.
The US-25 bypass is a divided four-lane highway. It has a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour. High speeds plus a lack of traffic signals for cross traffic contribute to the danger of this short road.
Navigating the Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Waynesboro, GA
You probably cannot avoid the most dangerous roads and intersections in Waynesboro. Accidents cluster around each of the five of the major roads that converge in the town.
However, you can adjust your driving to reduce the risk of becoming a fatality on these roads. Most of these fatal accidents involved someone who was speeding and was not wearing a seat belt.
Contact The Car Accident Law Firm in Waynesboro, GA Of Hawk Law Group For A Free Initial Consultation
By slowing down and buckling up, you can survive an accident on the most dangerous roads and intersections in Waynesboro.To discuss your car accident on the roads and intersections of Waynesboro, GA, contact Hawk Law Group at 706-437-9122 for a free consultation.
