SCDPS: Be Safe This Summer

South Carolina Department of Public Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2010
CONTACT: Your Community Relations Officer, 803-896-8144

FATALITIES DECLINE SINCE 100 DEADLY DAYS OF SUMMER BEGAN

SCHP ENCOURAGES CAUTION FOR JULY 4 TRAVEL

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports that fatalities have declined since the beginning of the 100 Deadly Days of Summer -- the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day. As of June 30, there have been 50 highway fatalities compared to 99 during a similar period in 2009. The agency’s summer safety partnership with the SC Department of Natural Resources “On the water and on the road” continues this weekend.

Since the Highway Patrol kicked off its partnership with SCDNR on Memorial Day weekend, the Highway Patrol has made more than 1,300 arrests for DUI.

There was more good news released today about motor vehicle safety. Safety belt usage has set a record in South Carolina -- topping 85 percent (see attached release).

AAA Carolinas has forecast travel to be up by 12 percent this July 4 weekend compared to last year. Leading into the holiday, South Carolina has had 375 deaths this year compared to 432 last year at this time. The official travel period begins at 6 p.m. Friday night and runs through midnight Monday. Last year, 12 people died on the roadways during the holiday travel period.

The Highway Patrol began their safety campaign with SCDNR on May 24, including a strong enforcement emphasis on the water and on the roadways – with a focus on impaired driving. There have been special impaired driving enforcement efforts as well as radio, television and billboards emphasizing the effort.

Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. said motorists should be aware of increased enforcement throughout the state with all administrative troopers and staff working the roadways during this heavy travel time.

“The primary concerns we have going into this holiday are: impaired driving and child restraint and safety belt violations. We have seen tragic deaths in recent weeks of children and teen drivers,” Lancaster said. “I cannot repeat this message enough: your number one defense against an impaired or aggressive driver is your safety belt and having your passengers – especially children -- properly restrained in the vehicle.”

Lancaster emphasized that in addition to focusing on impaired drivers, he has instructed troopers to be especially vigilant about child restraint violations with a focus on educating parents and caregivers about how to properly restrain children. Information about child passenger safety guidelines in South Carolina may be found at www.buckleupsc.com. The Highway Patrol urges motorists to do a thorough check of their tires, wiper blades, and fluid levels – especially with the extreme temperatures, which can be taxing on vehicles.

The public service announcements for this campaign may be viewed at: http://www.schp.org/cro/be_safe_this_summer_2010.htm.

-- Safety Belt Study (MS Word file)
-- DNR Billboard (PDF file)
-- DUI Enforcement (.JPG file)

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, Office of Highway Safety, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Justice Programs and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.

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COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Highway Patrol and SC Department of Natural Resources are combining efforts and working with local law enforcement to save lives on the roadways and waterways this summer through enforcement and public outreach. The SCDPS Office of Highway Safety announced that motorists will also be seeing Highways or Dieways spots airing to support its Buckle Up, SC campaign. The agencies made simultaneous announcements in Columbia, Greenville, Rock Hill, Charleston, Conway, Aiken and Greenwood.

Last summer, 281 people died on the roadways over the summer months. Of those deaths, 117 of the 210 vehicle occupants were not wearing safety belts. The primary causes of the collisions were: 1. DUI; 2. Too Fast for Conditions; and 3. Running off the Road.

“Now -- more than ever -- it’s important that law enforcement pool resources and this combined effort is simply the most effective way to keep people safe on our highways and on the water,” said Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. “Tourist and in-state travel always rises during the summer months and historically, so do collisions and fatalities. Often those fatalities – on water and land – involve an impaired driver.”

DNR announces that 15 people have died on South Carolina waterways so far this year compared to 11 people who died in drowning and boating accidents the entire year of 2009.

“We have already seen more boating deaths this year than we did all last year on the water,” said SCDNR Col. Alvin Taylor. “That concerns us and we want to do everything we can to encourage boaters to wear life vests and to understand that boating under the influence can have the same deadly consequences as it does behind the wheel of a vehicle on the road.”

Col. Taylor said that his department will be looking out for boaters operating in a reckless manner, including speed and driving while intoxicated and not wearing personal flotation devices.

SCDNR and SCDPS introduced two public service announcements today that will begin airing around the state over Memorial Day weekend and are also slated to air July 4 and Labor Day weekends. About 100 billboards have gone up statewide announcing the enforcement efforts (see attached).

Memorial Day travel will begin this Friday at 6 p.m. Last year, seven people died on the highways during this time with more than 500 crashes statewide. Memorial Day is known is the official beginning of summer, which runs until Labor Day.

The SC Department of Transportation’s variable message boards will be used to remind motorists of the safety belt law as part of the Buckle Up, SC campaign. Last year, the state set a record of 81.5 percent of motorists using safety belts – and the total number of fatalities fell below 900 for the first time since 1995.

Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. speaking at Columbia event

Columbia Event 1: Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. (speaking); SCDPS Director Mark Keel (left); SCDNR Col. Alvin Taylor

Director Mark Keel speaks at the Columbia news conference joined by troopers, SCDNR officers, SCDPS officers and local law enforcement agencies.