FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 10, 2002

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

 

 FASTEN FOR LIFE THANKSGIVING CAMPAIGN ENDS

 WITH DROP IN FATALITIES, MORE THAN 16,000 CITATIONS ISSUED

 

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety wrapped up its Fasten For Life Thanksgiving enforcement campaign last week with 30 percent fewer fatalities compared to 2001, following a yearlong trend in which fatalities have consistently remained behind the previous year. 

 

During the two-week enforcement period this year (11/18-12/1), there were 35 people killed, compared to 50 during a similar period last year. Of the 27 vehicle passengers, 16 were not restrained, 10 were restrained and one person had unknown restraint usage. Seven of those 35 people died during the 102-hour Thanksgiving travel period - a 56 percent drop from last year’s 16 fatalities.

 

Traffic fatalities have topped 1,000 for the past four years in South Carolina. There have been 953 people killed so far this year, compared to this time last year when fatality numbers had already topped 1,000.

 

“We are encouraged that fatalities seem to be declining on our highways - not only during special enforcement periods but throughout the entire year,” said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. 

 

Law enforcement focused on the roads in each county with the most injury and fatal collisions rather than using a series of planned checkpoints.

 

The Highway Patrol and State Transport Police issued more than 16,000 citations during the two-week enforcement period. Some of the enforcement statistics include: 303 child restraint citations issued, 1,970 seat belt violations, 13,764 speeding citations, 403 failure to yield, 137 disregarding sign/signal and 392 DUI.

 

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.

 

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SI/145/02