In response to a recent report issued by the South Carolina Highway Patrol, there has been an increase in traffic fatalities in South Carolina. South Carolina has seen a whopping 25% increase in deaths caused by motor vehicle traffic accidents.
According to the National Safety Council, traffic deaths in the US between 2014 and 2016 increased 18 percent. However, the state of South Carolina saw a 25 percent increase. In North Carolina, the number jumped to 26 percent over the same two-year period.
More traffic, more distractions, and poor road conditions lead to a higher number of traffic fatalities across the state of South Carolina. Remember, it’s easy to call a traffic accident death a “fatality,” which is an umbrella term. But imagine if it was your loved one, or a close friend, who was tragically killed in a preventable traffic accident. Deaths caused by car accidents are an unnecessary tragedy. We all have to remember that it’s not just a “fatality”; in fact, it is the loss of a human being—the loss of a father, a mother, a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister—in a preventable situation. As a car accident attorney, I witness how car accidents affect the lives of real people in our community. And it’s a terrible, terrible preventable tragedy.
What are some of the reasons for these high statistics? The Target Zero program discusses the state of South Carolina’s goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths to Zero. One of these factors is the increase in traffic due to tourism. Whether it’s our beautiful parks or our fabulous food, our state, especially upstate, has received a lot of positive media attention in the last two years. This has resulted in an increase in visitors.
Another factor contributing to the increase in traffic could be attributed to people moving here. In 2015, there was a 2.5 percent increase in the number of registered vehicles and a 2 percent increase in the number of driver’s licenses issued in South Carolina.
With more traffic on the roads, there will of course be more traffic-related accidents. However, there are still other reasons for shipwrecks. Distracted driving, drowsy driving, and drunk driving continue to be factors in car accident-related fatalities.
So stay safe and be a defensive driver. And follow this simple advice: Slow down. Leave enough distance between your car and other cars. Get off your cell phone or smartphone. Keep your eyes on the road. Keep both hands on the wheel. Never drink or drive or drive while tired. Take safe driving seriously.
