Georgia drivers are being urged to slow down and plan ahead as thousandsof people prepare to hit the roads for Labor Day weekend.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety is warning motorists that the holiday travel period begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, and continues through midnight Monday, Sept. 7, according to Atlanta News First.
The warning comes after a deadly Labor Day travel period in Georgia last year.
During the 2025 holiday travel period, 15 people were killed in traffic crashes across the state, while 238 people were injured in 359 crashes, according to Georgia DPS.
"We would love to be able to say, one holiday period, that we had zero fatalities," Crystal Zion, director of the DPS Public Information Office, said Tuesday. "We would love not
to have to go visit anybody’s home and tell them their loved one was lost on the Labor Day holiday period."
When Georgia drivers can expect the worst traffic
Drivers should expect congestion to build before the official holiday travel period begins.
The heaviest traffic is expected Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. and throughout the day Friday as Georgians leave for Labor Day destinations.
Atlanta is also expected to be one of the country's most popular domestic destinations for Labor Day travel. AAAranked the city No. 10 among domestic destinations for the holiday weekend.
DPS officials are encouraging drivers to leave early, allow extra time and be patient with other motorists.
Georgia officers will be watching for dangerous driving
Georgia drivers can also expect an increased law enforcement presence throughout the holiday weekend.
DPS officials said additional officers will be watching for impaired, distracted and aggressive drivers, as well as violations involving seat belts and child passenger safety.
Drunk driving remains a particular concern during the holiday period.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 40% of deadly crashes during Georgia's Labor Day holiday travel periods from 2020 through 2024 involved a drunk driver.
DPS officials are urging anyone planning to drink to arrange a safe way home ahead of time, including using public transportation, a rideshare service or a designated sober driver.
Officials remind drivers about Georgia's Move Over Law
Drivers traveling Georgia's highways are also being reminded to watch for emergency vehicles stopped on the shoulder.
Under Georgia's Move Over Law, motorists approaching an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights must move over one lane when possible. If they cannot safely move over, they must slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.
Which Georgia interstates could be the busiest this Labor Day weekend?
Here are the roads Georgia DOT expects to be the most congested:
- I-75: Near Macon and Stockbridge area, moderate to heavy congestion
- I-16: Savannah area, heavy congestion
- I-475: Macon area, heavy congestion
- I-75: Macon area, heavy congestion
- I-16: East Georgia near Savannah, heavy congestion
- I-75: North Georgia travelers near Chattanooga area, moderate congestion
- I-24: Northwest Georgia near Chattanooga, moderate congestion
- I-85: West Georgia near Alabama, light congestion
- I-20: Alabama area, light congestion
- I-75: Valdosta area, light congestion
- I-85: South Carolina area, light congestion
- I-95: Drivers traveling through Southeast Georgia near the Florida line, light congestion
The worst times to drive around Atlanta
Georgia DOT expects metro Atlanta's heaviest interstate traffic Friday, Sept. 4, from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 5, from noon to 6 p.m.
The good news for travelers is that Georgia DOT plans to suspend interstate lane closures from noon Friday through 5 a.m. Tuesday, although some closures may remain for safety or emergency reasons.
For the latest conditions before heading out, Georgia DOT recommends checking 511GAfor real-time traffic, crashes, closures and travel information.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: These 12 Georgia roads could be the worst Labor Day weekend, DOT says
