FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 14, 2006

CONTCT: L/Cpl. Kathy Hiles, 803-896-8144

 

SCHP BEGINS ENFORCEMENT SATURATIONS IN ANDERSON COUNTY TO STABLILIZE RISING FATALITY NUMBERS

 

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety begins an enforcement and public education blitz tomorrow in Anderson County to fight a 33 percent increase in fatality numbers this year compared to last.

 

This is a sustained effort that will remain in place until the fatalities numbers begin dropping. The Highway Patrol has used this “saturation” model successfully elsewhere in the state.

 

“Anderson County is following a disturbing trend in the Upstate of escalating fatalities due to preventable collisions,” said Highway Patrol Col. Russell F. Roark. “We will be harnessing enforcement resources, including motorcycle units and additional troopers, to apply a concentrated focus on specific highways and areas in Anderson County.”

 

The State Transport Police will assist with commercial motor vehicle traffic enforcement on I-85 as well as other identified roadways. The Highway Patrol will be working closely with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Anderson Police Department. Public Safety checkpoints also will be used throughout the county. Law enforcement will be checking driver’s licenses, registrations, insurance, open containers and other traffic violations.

 

From January 1, 2006, through August 31, 2006, Post A (Anderson) has had a 33 percent increase in traffic fatalities compared to the same time frame in 2005 (36 vs. 24). The leading causes for these fatal collisions include: speed, failure to yield and driving under the influence. Other areas of concern include: safety belt violations (74 percent of those in a vehicle were not buckled up); motorcycles (21 percent of the fatalities this year involved motorcycles).

 

A study of the traffic trends in this area also revealed:

 

• The majority—36 percent—of the collisions involve failure to yield the right of way;
• 63 percent of the time, the deceased was at fault;
• 33 percent of the  fatal collisions occurred on state highways;
• 33 percent occurred on secondary, city and county roads;
• 74 percent of the fatalities involve occupants without safety belts;
• 41 percent of the fatal collisions occurred in the Northeast portion of the county.
• The majority of the collisions - 42 percent - occur between 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; 36 percent of the collisions happened between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• 78 percent of motorcycle/bicycle collisions involve drivers without helmets.

 

The public can expect to see increased enforcement traffic on the following highways: I-85, US 76, US 29, US 178, SC 8 and SC 153 as well as areas throughout Anderson County as conditions warrant.

 

“We have seen from past initiatives that when you enlist the public’s help in making their own communities safer, driving behaviors start to shift and fatality numbers and overall collisions begin to drop,” Roark said. “We are calling on the community to work hand-in-hand with us to make this scenic area of our state a safer place to drive.”

 

The Highway Patrol will begin next week distributing safety fliers in Anderson and bordering counties to announce the increase in enforcement and let them know how they can keep themselves safe on the highways. Additionally, the Highway Patrol will work with businesses, schools and churches to present its highway safety curriculum coupled with driving safety tips.

 

Any organization interested in having the Highway Patrol present its safety curriculum may call L/Cpl. Kathy Hiles at 864-241-5026, the SCHP Office of Community Relations at 803-896-7920 or “Request a Trooper to Speak” online at our web site -- www.schp.org.