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

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety today announced that fatalities have decreased over the summer months and were down by eight during the Fasten For Life Enforcement period (Aug. 26-Sept. 3) compared to the year before.

From August 26 - September 3, 2002, there were 21 fatalities. Nineteen of those people were motor vehicle occupants, only two of which were restrained. During a comparable period in 2001, there were 29 fatalities. Seventeen of those people were motor vehicle occupants - and only seven were restrained.

“While we are encouraged that fatality numbers have dropped - both for the Labor Day period and for the summer in general - we are still seeing far too many people die because they were unbuckled,” said DPS Director Boykin Rose. “Statistics clearly show that many of these people would have survived if only they had taken the time to buckle up.”

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year, 291 people have died in traffic collisions on South Carolina roads, compared to 319 during the same time period last year. The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is commonly referred to as the 100 deadly days of summer.

The number of people killed in traffic collisions so far this year is also down. So far this year, 697 people have died compared to last year at this time when 719 had died.

“This is typically the time of year when we see fatality numbers begin to spike upward and remain that way for the remainder of the year,” said DPS Office of Highway Safety Director Max Young. “The fact that we are running behind last year in terms of fatalities is significant - especially following the 100 deadly days of summer.”

The Highway Patrol issued more than 11,000 citations during the nine-day enforcement period including, 293 child restraint citations, 1,452 seatbelt violations, 304 DUI citations and 8,985 speeding citations.

Like the Memorial Day Fasten For Life campaign, law enforcement focused on the roads in each county with the most injury and fatal collisions rather than using a series of planned checkpoints.

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SI/114/2002

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