FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety wrapped up its Fasten For Life Memorial Day enforcement campaign on Sunday, issuing more than 16,000 citations statewide including everything from speeding to child restraint.

There were 48 people killed during the enforcement campaign from May 20-June 2, compared to 38 in 2001.

“Despite law enforcement’s increased presence and a far-reaching public relations campaign encouraging people to buckle up, our fatality numbers rose 26 percent over the year before,” said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. “We are on target for 2002 to be one of the deadliest years on our highways in recent history.”

This year, law enforcement focused on the roads in each county with the most injury and fatal collisions rather than using a series of planned checkpoints. Enforcement numbers rose dramatically over last year, showing 16,794 citations issued this year, compared to 9,553 last year.

In 2001, however, there had been 88 fewer people killed through June 5 than the previous year. So far this year, 431 people have died compared to 426 at the same time last year -- a five-person increase.

Some of the enforcement statistics include: 426 child restraint citations issued, 2,129 seat belt violations, 13,503 speeding citations, 80 failure to yield, 237 disregarding sign/signal and 423 DUI.

Of those 16,000 motorists cited for a violation by the Highway Patrol or State Transport Police, more than 85 percent of those were buckled up. However, for those vehicle occupants who died in crashes, only 24 percent were restrained.

This is a four-year comparison of the number of fatalities during a similar two-week period and restraint status:

2002: Total fatalities: 48; 38 in motor vehicles, 29 of those no restraint, (10 non-vehicle occupants)

2001: Total fatalities: 38; 30 in motor vehicles, 17 of those no restraint, (8 non-vehicle occupants)

2000: Total fatalities: 42; 32 in motor vehicles, 23 of those no restraint, (10 non-vehicle occupants)

1999: Total fatalities: 38; 30 in motor vehicles; 23 of those no restraint, (8 non-vehicle occupants)

DPS will conduct a post-campaign seat belt survey to determine how the current 65 percent seat belt usage rate may have changed following the campaign.

SI/82/01
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