Atlanta Traffic, Safety Trends, and How They Affect Car Crash Risk in Georgia

Insights from Flack Injury Law

Every month, we publish practical, Georgia-focused safety guidance to help drivers protect themselves and their families on the road. This month’s update highlights several surprising traffic and safety trends affecting metro-Atlanta drivers — including the worst day of the week for traffic, how small changes in speed dramatically increase crash severity, and why the end of daylight saving time leads to a spike in car wrecks.

These insights don’t just come from studies — they come from what we see every day while helping injured Georgians recover after serious collisions.

When Is Atlanta’s Traffic the Worst (and Most Dangerous)?

A new transportation study found that Wednesday between 4–6 pm is the single worst time for overall traffic in metro-Atlanta.

Why Wednesdays? Since the pandemic, hybrid work schedules have changed the flow of Atlanta commuting. Many employees now work from home on Mondays and Fridays, which dramatically reduces early-week and late-week congestion. As a result:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays now carry the heaviest traffic

• Wednesday evenings are the most congested and statistically the most crash-prone

If you must drive during mid-week rush hours, give yourself more travel time and stay alert to sudden slowdowns — rear-end collisions rise sharply during heavy stop-and-go traffic.

Speeding Barely Saves Time — But Greatly Increases Crash Severity

Most drivers believe that speeding significantly reduces travel time. The truth is, it usually doesn’t.

On a 30-mile highway trip:

• Increasing speed from 60 mph → 70 mph saves roughly 4 minutes

• But it increases crash force by 36%

That’s over one-third more impact force transferred to your vehicle and your body.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows:

• Speeding contributes to nearly 30% of all traffic deaths in the U.S.

• Injury severity rises exponentially with speed — even small increases make a big difference

In many of the cases we handle, a driver was “only going a little over the speed limit,” yet the resulting injuries were far more serious than they would have been at lower speeds.

Why the End of Daylight Saving Time Brings More Car Accidents

When daylight saving time ends each November, evening commutes suddenly become darker — and more dangerous.

Multiple studies show:

• A 6–10% increase in car crashes the week after clocks change

• Higher rates of evening collisions, especially involving pedestrians

• A spike in drowsy driving, particularly during late-afternoon and early-evening hours

Shorter days also mean:

• More nighttime driving

• Reduced visibility

• Slower reaction times

To reduce risk:

• Ensure your headlights and taillights are clean and fully functional

• Reduce your speed during dark commutes

• Stay alert for pedestrians, cyclists, and sudden traffic stops

Dark roads plus heavy Atlanta traffic is a dangerous combination — especially in November and December.

A Personal Note

We recently celebrated my birthday with a family dinner — here’s a photo of my children, Julian and Suzanna, my wife Ashley, and my parents Krista and Gary. Julian is almost three, and Suzy is about to turn one. (The adults’ ages will remain protected information!)

Family time is a big reminder of why our work matters: every client we help is someone else’s spouse, parent, or child.

If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident in Georgia, We’re Here to Help

Flack Injury Law is dedicated to helping Georgians recover physically, financially, and emotionally after a car accident. We focus exclusively on injury law, and we fight to secure the maximum compensation available — including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.

Whether your collision happened yesterday or months ago, you can reach out anytime with questions. There’s no cost to speak with us, and no fee unless we win your case.

Call or text: (678) 653-0309

We’re here to help you navigate the road ahead.

— Jonathan Flack

Flack Injury Law