FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

JOINT LEXINGTON COUNTY ENFORCEMENT EFFORT SAVES LIVES

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office credit their recent joint enforcement effort with reducing the county’s high fatality rate. During the stepped up enforcement period, which ran from June 4 - July 31, four people died in three fatal crashes, down from eight people in seven fatal crashes during the same time period last year.

The Highway Patrol District One Operation STOP team and two deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office focused their enforcement efforts in high-crash areas, including the Swansea, Batesburg-Leesville, the U.S. 378 and the Lake Murray area. Officers made more than 2100 cases during the effort, including nearly 1,000 for speeding, 30 for driving under the influence and 44 for driving under suspension.

"I want to thank the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office for working with us on this effort to save lives by targeting dangerous driving behavior," said District 1 Capt. Russell Roark. "The decrease in fatalities clearly shows that our high visibility made a difference on the roads."

"We’re pleased to have been a part of this joint enforcement effort," Sheriff James Metts said. "We believe we made roads safer for motorists who obey traffic laws. Aggressive driving is a growing problem nationally, but our efforts sent a message to the motoring public that it will not be tolerated in Lexington County."

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. During that time period last year, 21 people died in Lexington County collisions.

In 1999, there were 39 total fatalities in Lexington County; that number climbed to 51 in 2000. As of July 31 this year, 22 people had died in traffic collisions in Lexington County.

Special Lexington County enforcement effort results (total cases made):

Operating uninsured vehicle: 14

Speeding (10 mph or less): 53

Shifting lanes improperly: 11

Failure to dim lights: 3

No headlights/lights improper: 25

Vehicle in unsafe condition: 5

Following too closely: 11

Speeding (11-24 mph): 917

Disregarding sign or signal: 24

No right of way: 4

Driving left of center: 1

Passing unlawfully: 13

Turning unlawfully: 4

Reckless driving: 4

Speeding (25 mph or more): 24

Failure to stop for police vehicle: 3

Other moving violations: 14

Drivers license violations: 154

Littering: 9

Vehicle license violations: 137

Child restraint violations: 26

Violations of seat belt law: 399

Violations of open container: 51

Possession of alcohol by a minor: 7

Other violations: 160

Driving under suspension: 44

Driving under the influence: 30

Total traffic cases: 2147

Other violations: 4 drug cases, 1 stolen vehicle case and 1 weapon violation

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JB/110/2001

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