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Aerial photo of a poor quality rural road with 1-star rating located in Carroll County, Georgia

Case Study:

Enhancing rural road safety in Georgia

SafeRoads is an innovative road safety analysis platform that transforms complex data into actionable intelligence. This collaboration with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Esri, The Ray, and Abley demonstrates a best practice, Safe System Approach to road safety. By using SafeRoads, the team was able to identify high-risk segments and quantify potential safety improvements, enabling evidence-based decisions that will maximize road safety outcomes.
SafeRoads Mockup image-1

The Challenge

Rural roads in Georgia contribute disproportionately to road trauma despite representing a small percentage of the overall road network. Our SafeRoads assessment revealed:

  • 31,400 people were killed or seriously injured on rural roads in Georgia between 2013-2022

  • Only 6% of Georgia's rural roads (by length) are rated as 1 star or 2 star

  • These high risk roads accounted for 20% of all fatalities and serious injuries (over 6,000 people)

Table of how 6% of Georgia's rural roads (rated 1-2 stars) account for 20% of all fatalities and serious injuries, causing over 6,000 casualties from 2013-2022
Graph showing Georgia's rural road safety: 1-5 star ratings vs. fatalities per 100 miles from 2013-2022.

Impact Analysis: Statewide Results

SafeRoads identified approximately 1,800 miles of Georgia's state road network as 1 star and 2 star roads. By upgrading these segments to met the 3 star global safety target, we could save approximately 125 death and serious injuries per annum.

View Georgia's road safety map showing how upgrading 1,800 miles of 1-2 star roads to 3-star standards could prevent 125 deaths and serious injuries yearly
Carroll County road safety analysis showing 35 miles of 1-2 star rural roads failing to meet WHO/UN Target 4 safety standards, despite carrying significant portion of the county's 75% travel volume

Meeting Global Safety Standards

The WHO/UN Target 4 states that by 2030, more than 75% of travel should occur on roads that meet safety technical standards (3 star or better). In Carroll County, 204 miles of rural roads carry 75% of all travel and of those, 35 miles have a 1 star or 2 star rating. These roads currently do not achieve the global road safety target.

Map view highlighting Carroll County in Georgia, United States of America

Carroll County Case Study

We selected Carroll County to demonstrate the practical application of SafeRoads at the local level. 

Carroll County, Georgia road safety map highlighting 93% of rural roads rated 3-stars or higher by Abley SafeRoads assessment

93% of Carroll County's rural roads already meet the 3 star or greater standard

Carroll County road safety map revealing 7% of low-rated rural roads (1-2 stars) account for 20% of serious crashes, with 13 annual fatalities and serious injuries based on 2013-2022 data

The remaining 7% of roads (rated 1 star or 2 star) disproportionately account for 20% of all deaths and serious injuries. These high risk roads result in approximately 13 people killed or seriously injured annually.*

*2013-2022 crash data

Carroll County road safety analysis showing 35 miles of 1-2 star rural roads failing to meet WHO/UN Target 4 safety standards, despite carrying significant portion of the county's 75% travel volume

Meeting Global Safety Standards

The WHO/UN Target 4 states that by 2030, more than 75% of travel should occur on roads that meet safety technical standards (3 star or better). In Carroll County, 204 miles of rural roads carry 75% of all travel and of those, 35 miles have a 1 star or 2 star rating. These roads currently do not achieve the global road safety target.

Map view highlighting Carroll County in Georgia, United States of America

Carroll County Case Study

We selected Carroll County to demonstrate the practical application of SafeRoads at the local level. 

An example of a 1 star road

The following features make this a 1 star road:
  • Rural residential
  • Undivided
  • Very narrow shoulder
  • Medium lane width
  • Curved alignment
  • High/moderate hazards
  • 6,000-12,000 vehicles per day
  • 55 mph speed limit
  • 3-5 intersections per mile
  • 5-10 accesses per mile
Photo of a poor quality rural road with 1-star rating located in Carroll County, Georgia

Targeted upgrade solutions

We have identified interventions to upgrade this road to a 3 star to meet the UN/WHO global safety target.
Discover how wider shoulders and roadside barriers upgrade 1-star roads to 3-star safety, preventing crashes and protecting drivers from hazards

Safety benefits

SafeRoads analysis demonstrates substantial life-saving potential through strategic upgrades:

  • State Roads: Upgrading 1,819 miles to 3-star+ would save approximately 125 deaths and serious injuries annually

  • Carroll County: Upgrading 86 miles to 3-star+ would save approximately 3 deaths and serious injuries annually

  • Statewide Impact: Upgrading 6,230 miles to 3-star+ would save 387 deaths and serious injuries annually

Discover SafeRoads:

Comprehensive rural road risk analysis for every state network with Abley SafeRoads.
Learn more

 

Get in touch

Send us an email to learn how SafeRoads can support your organization’s road safety goals.

We are passionate about inspiring positive change.

Abley is a specialist New Zealand owned transport planning, road safety and geospatial technology company. Founded in 2003, we work with organizations in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, across central and local governments as well as large organizations.  

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