FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2001
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

HIGHWAY PATROL SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IN REDUCING UPSTATE’S SOARING TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol and local law enforcement officers, coroners and EMS personnel joined forces in a news conference today to ask the motoring public to drive safely and obey all laws. The effort is in response to the high number of traffic fatalities in the Upstate recently; 23 people have been killed in traffic collisions there in the last two weeks. Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg are the main contributing counties.

"We’ve done everything humanly possible to try to reduce our soaring fatality rate," said District 3 Capt. Mike Gardner. "But we can’t do it alone. We must have the public’s help in preventing this senseless loss of life on our roads."

The causes of the deadly crashes in the Upstate vary from driving under the influence to speed, failure to yield the right of way and inattention. Nine of the 23 fatalities resulted in crashes where driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs was the probable cause. Four others died in crashes caused by excessive speed. Five motorcyclists, none of whom was wearing a helmet, were killed in crashes.

"Most of the traffic fatalities resulted from collisions caused by some sort of driver error, which is why we are making this appeal to the public to do its part by obeying all traffic laws," said Gardner. "The best insurance policy you have against becoming another highway fatality is driving defensively and buckling up every time you get into the car."

The time period from the Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day is referred to as the 100 deadly days of summer, a time when highway traffic fatalities and collisions tend to peak.

So far this year in the Upstate, 146 people have died in traffic crashes, compared with 133 through the end of July last year. Statewide, 526 people have died in traffic crashes so far this year, compared with 626 at this same time last year.

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JB/104/01

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