The five fatalities is half the number of 2025 fatalities of 10 over the same travel period
UPDATE: At the end of the 78-hour 2026 Labor Day travel period a total of five fatalities were reported across all law enforcement agencies. Two of them were pedestrian fatalities, one on Loganville Highway just outside the Loganville city limits and another in Fulton County worked by Georgia State Patrol Post 51 in Gwinnett County. This is a significant reduction, half the number of 10 fatalities worked over the Labor Day travel period in 2025.
UPDATE: On the morning of Labor Day 2026, Georgia Department of Public Safety is reporting four fatalities since the Friday evening start of the 78-hour holiday travel period. Two of those are pedestrian fatalities in the Gwinnett County jurisdiction, the first in Fulton County worked Saturday by Georgia State Patrol 51 in Gwinnett County and the other one at Loganville Highway and Brand Road just outside the Loganville city limits currently being investigated by Gwinnett County Police Department. At the midnight end of the 2025 Labor Day travel period, 10 fatalities had been recorded on Georgia roads.
There are 18 hours left in the 2026 Labor Day holiday travel and official continue to urge caution as motorists travel to and return from Labor Day events.
Initial story
Thousands of Georgians are expected to travel this Labor Day weekend as summer comes to its unofficial end. The Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) is again reminding motorists that Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Officers will conduct high-visibility patrols on interstates and secondary roads, focusing on impaired driving, speeding, seatbelt violations, distracted driving, and other unsafe driving behaviors.
The 78-hour holiday travel period begins Friday, Sept. 4, at 6:00 p.m., and ends Monday, Sept. 7, at 11:59 p.m.
“Labor Day weekend is a busy time on Georgia’s roadways. We encourage motorists to make safety a priority by buckling up, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, and designating a sober driver if consuming alcohol,” Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said in a press release.
During the 2025 Labor Day holiday travel period, Troopers investigated 359 crashes, resulting in 10 fatalities and 238 injuries. Including local law enforcement, there were 15 fatalities statewide. Troopers also made 435 arrests for driving under the influence.
“Heavy traffic is expected throughout the holiday weekend, so we encourage motorists to be patient, stay alert, and make responsible decisions behind the wheel. A few extra minutes are never worth risking a life,” Colonel Hitchens added.
GDPS advise Motorists to follow these safety tips:
- Buckle up. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained, and children are secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat.
- Never drive impaired. Designate a sober driver or arrange for a safe ride home.
- Obey the speed limit. Speeding reduces reaction time and increases the risk and severity of a crash.
- Avoid distracted driving. Keep your attention on the road and your hands off your phone.
- Maintain a safe following distance. Leave enough space to react and stop safely, especially in heavy traffic.
- Plan your travel and allow extra travel time. Expect holiday congestion and avoid rushing or making sudden lane changes.
- Use caution around large trucks. Avoid blind spots and abrupt lane changes in front of commercial vehicles.
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car (Source: INRIX)
If you have an emergency on the roadway or are involved in a crash, contact 911, and call *GSP if you observe impaired or reckless driving.
The Department of Public Safety will update the holiday traffic enforcement count on its official social media platforms throughout the holiday weekend.
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