Metro Atlanta sees an alarming uptick in the number car accidents, especially wrong-way crashes

ATLANTA — The number of deadly car crashes across the United States is alarming. According to the American Automobile Association, there’s also been an uptick in wrong-way crashes.

Channel 2′s Action News Michele Newell spoke with AAA and members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving about the problem. Many of these crashes are happening on the interstate and involve drivers that are drunk or high on drugs.

The most recent wrong-way crash just happened on the downtown connector a week ago. Three other cars were hit and police charged the driver with DUI.

“We’re losing too many lives from reckless driving,” said Deshawn Patrick, a driver.

Other drivers are constantly worried about their safety on the roads.

“It feels not as safe on the road,” said Marilyn Schulman, a driver.

That’s a troubling perspective from drivers in Georgia.

“Since I moved here, I’ve learned you have to drive very defensive here,” said Thomas Johnson, a driver.

Many drivers have had their own experiences with wrong-way drivers in the metro.

“People going the wrong way, they really come up the wrong street and be flying pass like they know they going up the right street,” said Cortez Jackson, a driver.

It’s personal for Jackson. His brother was a victim of a wrong-way crash.

“A car came out the wrong way off the exit coming too fast got straight over hit him, he hit another car. Another car hit another car,” said Jackson.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Douglas County Fights Instagram account removed day after Channel 2 investigates
• Atlanta woman goes into labor after eating a Chick-Fil-A sandwich, baby born on special date
• Braves fans worried about continued MLB lockout

Its not just a problem in Georgia. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration released estimates earlier this week that show an increase in deadly crashes nationwide.

“There is an alarming trend with wrong-way crashes,” said Garrett Townsend of AAA.

According to a recent AAA survey, over 2,000 wrong-way crashes happened in the U.S. between 2015 and 2018, many of them on the interstates.

“We found that about six out of 10 of those wrong-way crashes involved impaired driving,” said Townsend.

We contacted Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which regularly works with law enforcement.

They are seeing an increase in the number of drivers in Georgia who get behind the wheel drunk or high.

“Unfortunately this is extremely troubling ,”said Cynthia Hagain, MADD victim service specialist.

Friends trying to help Army veteran who suffered terrible accident

©2022 Cox Media Group