FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2006

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

Or CROs (see below) at 803-896-8144

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVILIANS TAKE TO THE STREETS TO BATTLE RISING FATALITY NUMBERS

                                                                                                                                   

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety will begin Monday canvassing businesses, churches and downtown areas in 11 counties statewide to alert the public about a surge in fatalities in their areas. While motor vehicle fatalities are down overall compared to 2005, fatalities are clustering in certain multi-county areas. Motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities are up this year.

 

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is taking a nontraditional approach to informing the public about this issue through “Street Teams.” SCDPS is forming teams of eight to 10 people including Highway Patrol troopers, Law Enforcement Network representatives, SCDPS personnel, Families of Highway Fatality members, local law enforcement and other civilians. The department has prepared handout materials that are localized to each area (see attached for two samples).  

 

“We are timing this effort immediately before Thanksgiving because we want our message to be very specific to where the problems are and fresh in people’s minds as they begin preparing for one of the heaviest travel holidays of the year,” said SCDPS Director James K. Schweitzer. “We also want people to be alert as they travel through these areas of our state.”

 

These are the counties that the Street Teams will begin focusing on the week of November 13:

n      Lexington (Street Teams will be present on Wednesday, Nov. 15. For information on specifics, contact L/Cpl. Josef Robinson).

n      Aiken (Street Teams will be present on Wednesday, Nov. 15. For information on specifics, contact L/Cpl. Trevor Clinton).

n      Darlington/Marlboro/Chesterfield (Street Teams will be present on Thursday, Nov. 16. For information on specifics, contact Cpl. Bryan McDougald).

n      Sumter/Clarendon (Street Teams will be present on Monday, Nov. 13. For information on specifics, contact L/Cpl. Josef Robinson).

n      Orangeburg/Calhoun (Street Teams will be present on Tuesday, Nov. 14. For information on specifics, contact L/Cpl. Trevor Clinton). ** There will also be a media briefing at 11 a.m. by the Highway Patrol and Orangeburg City/County law enforcement regarding this effort.

n      Anderson (Street Teams will be present on Monday, Nov. 13. For information on specifics, contact L/Cpl. Kathy Hiles).

n      Charleston (Street Teams will be present on Friday, Nov. 17. For information on specifics, contact Cpl. Paul Brouthers).

 

So far this year, 874 people have died on our roadways compared to 955 last year at this time. From January 8, 2005, through November 8, 2005, South Carolina had 90 motorcycle fatalities and 80 pedestrian fatalities compared to 94 motorcycle fatalities and 106 pedestrian fatalities this year.

 

“Our goal is to personalize our safety message by canvassing the streets especially in areas where it is more difficult to reach people through media and other more traditional avenues,” Schweitzer said. “We want people to start “talking” about highway safety in their communities and spread the word.”