Our goal is to provide highway safety data and fact-based analyses that will assist communities and safety advocates in implementing effective programs that will change high-risk driving behavior and increase safety on our streets and highways.

The history of GOHS follows that of highway safety in the USA as a whole. In 1966, 50,894 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. and the rate of fatalities per 100 million miles of travel was 5.5. It was projected that, over a 9-year period, the number of fatalities would increase to 100,000 a year if Congress did not do anything to address the problem. Taking heed of these dire predictions, Congress enacted the Highway Safety Act of 1966. This legislation created a unique partnership among federal, state and local governments to improve and expand the Nation's highway safety activities.

The Highway Safety Act of 1968 required governors to be responsible for the administration of the federal highway safety program in each state. The governor, through delegation of powers, had the authority to designate a Governor's Highway Safety Representative to administer the federally-funded highway program. It is through this that the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia was created.

The Mission of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety is to educate the public on traffic safety and facilitate the implementation of programs that reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities on Georgia roadways.

GOHS holds the distinction of organizing nationally recognized programs such as Operation Zero Tolerance and Click It or Ticket!

We design all of our programs and services with the goal of reaching every Georgia motorist. Safe driver behavior is our top priority and we must persuade all Georgians to adopt a similar goal.

Thank you for taking the time to visit the homepage for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for Georgia. Through education and enforcement programs, GOHS is determined to increase safety awareness on our roadways to help save the lives of all Georgians.

The vast majority of serious accidents on our roads and highways are preventable either through speed control, seat belt usage, drug and alcohol avoidance, or driver education. It is my hope and the hope of everyone at GOHS that this website will help you find the information that you seek regarding roadway safety. Whether you are new parent looking for baby car seat information, a teacher needing information about the dangers of drinking and driving, or even a volunteer group looking to start a safety program, GOHS wants to help you in your quest for knowledge.

But, we need your help as well. If there is information that you want to know but can't find, programs that you would like expanded, safety events that need to be broadcast, safety groups that need exposure, we need to know. A website and organization is only as good as the people involved with it, either officially or through the public. We want to be your dynamic source for highway safety in Georgia, so feel free to email us or call us toll free at 1-888-420-0767 (404-656-6996 in the Atlanta area). We'll be glad to hear from you.

Thank you again for your interest in GOHS. Together, we can make a difference in highway safety.

Sincerely,

Bob Dallas
Director,
Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia