LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A rollover crash on Highway 82 Tuesday evening (Sept. 8) raises fresh questions from drivers about their safety along this busy stretch of road.

A driver ran a red light and hit another vehicle near Fussell Road and Highway 82, flipping it into the center turn lane, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).

What drivers are saying

Following Tuesday’s crash, drivers shared concerns about driving along the corridor.

“People all seem to be in a hurry and distracted. You got to be careful. Got to be a defensive driver,” Kim Bridges said.

“I’ve seen actual accidents. People try and go too fast, mostly. So, they’ve got the speed limits down, but they’re still traveling real fast,” Darryl Taylor, another driver, said.

A number of people also shared concerns about safety on Highway 82 in the comments on WALB’s Facebook page.

A pattern of crashes

These are the three crashes WALB recently reported:

• July 31 — A wreck blocked traffic on Highway 82 near the Raceway just outside Albany around 3 p.m. Two people were taken to the hospital.
• July 30 — A multi-vehicle crash near Story Lane in Lee County sent three people to the hospital. At least one person had to be extricated from a car, and first responders performed life-saving measures at the scene.
• April 20 — Two people were hospitalized after a car overturned at the intersection of Highway 82 and Oakland Road

What crash data shows

Sheriff’s office data shows crashes clustering at several points along the corridor. The data shows red crash hotspots including the intersection of Fussell Road and a BP gas station. The speed limit at those locations is 45 mph.

Lee County Chief Deputy Eddie Burgess said speed is a factor in crashes along on the highway.

“There’s a reduced speed limit in that area. People are often traveling well in excess of it,” Burgess said. “Then we have people not abiding by the traffic control devices: running a red light, failure to yield.”

Burgess also noted distracted driving, primarily involving cell phones.

Left turns onto Highway 82 pose challenges

Drivers also said making a left turn onto Highway 82 is one of the hardest parts of navigating the road.

Burgess said drivers should take their time and consider avoiding left turns where there is no traffic light.

“If you have the opportunity to use a traffic signal or an intersection, as opposed to having to make a left-hand turn across traffic — that’s always a safe option,” Burgess said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF WRECK ON HWY. 82

More patrolling in Lee County

Burgess said deputies have increased patrols along the corridor now that the department is about 90% fully staffed.

“Where people were abiding by the posted speed limit, not distracted by their phone or being a defensive driver; under those conditions, I don’t think it’s a dangerous area,” he said.

There are no documented plans to add stoplights on U.S. 82 in Lee County.

On Aug. 28, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Georgia State Patrol for a proactive traffic enforcement operation that included license checks and road checks for impaired drivers. Deputies made about 80 traffic stops, resulting in nine arrests, including three for DUI and one for a felon in possession of a firearm.

Burgess said the sheriff’s office conducts similar operations monthly, with the goal of keeping deputies’ skills sharp and making the community safer.

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