A newly released set of traffic charts and departmental reports presented to the Public Works, Traffic, Transit & Trails Committee this week paints a complex picture of roadway safety in Rome: overall crashes are trending downward compared to last year, yet several intersections, time blocks, and driver behaviors continue to generate consistent problems for motorists. The May 2026 data—spanning accident causes, high‑incident locations, day‑of‑week patterns, and time‑of‑day spikes—offers one of the clearest snapshots yet of where Rome’s traffic risks are concentrated and how they are evolving.
Accidents Down, Injuries Slightly Lower
Rome Police reported 175 traffic accidents in May, down from 185 in May 2025. Private lot accidents also dropped from 77 to 64. Injury crashes fell slightly, from 53 last year to 48 this May.
The department recorded no fatalities for the month, compared to one fatality by this time last year.
Top Causes: Following Too Closely Leads by a Wide Margin
Charts included in the report show that “Following Too Closely” accounted for 49 crashes, making it the leading cause of May accidents. Other major contributors included:
- Failure to Yield — 32 crashes
- Improper Lane Change — 30 crashes
- Distracted Driving — 8 crashes
- Driving Under the Influence — 2 crashes
The report notes that “Other” causes — a broad category — made up the largest share at 68 incidents.
High-Incident Intersections Identified
Five intersections saw three or more crashes within 100 feet of the intersection:
- Shorter Ave / Redmond Circle — 5 crashes
- Turner McCall Blvd / Broad St — 5 crashes
- Shorter Ave / Williamson St — 4 crashes
- Turner McCall Blvd / N 4th Ave — 4 crashes
- Veterans Memorial Hwy / New Calhoun Hwy — 3 crashes
When Crashes Happen: Afternoons and Evenings Most Dangerous
Accidents peaked during:
- 4 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. — 47 crashes
- 11 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. — 37 crashes
- 2 p.m. to 3:59 p.m. — 29 crashes
Late-night crashes (midnight to 5:59 a.m.) rose from 5 in April to 12 in May.
Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays Are High-Risk Days
Accident totals by day of week show:
- Wednesday — 30 crashes
- Friday — 31 crashes
- Saturday — 28 crashes
DUI Arrests Rise
Rome Police made 21 DUI arrests in May, up from 16 in May 2025. Year‑to‑date DUI arrests remain slightly below last year (85 vs. 93).
What’s Next
The committee reviewed the data as part of its regular monthly meeting, which also included updates on block party street closures, transit finances, and departmental operations.
