FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2007

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, SCDPS 803-600-8119

 

conference to address highway safety issues
Law enforcement officials, traffic engineers and others
gather in Charleston for multi-day event

 

BLYTHEWOOD – Law enforcement, traffic engineers and other highway safety advocates met in Charleston this week to explore solutions to reduce deaths on South Carolina roadways.

 

The SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) spearheaded the 2007 SC Highway Safety Conference at the Marriott Charleston from September 11-13. The conference covered various disciplines in highway safety and drew nearly 300 attendees from around the state.

 

The conference comes at a time when South Carolina is experiencing an increase in highway traffic deaths compared to last year, according to preliminary numbers compiled by the state’s Office of Highway Safety. As of September 7, statistics show that 746 people have died in traffic collisions compared to 685 at this time last year. SCDPS officials fear the state could see another record high of traffic deaths.

 

“The mission of the SCDPS is to save lives,” said SCDPS Director James K. Schweitzer.  “Our primary tools in this effort are enforcement and education.  The highway safety conference is an opportunity to bring together multiple constituencies that share this common purpose.”

 

 The multi-day conference will include:

 

• Unveiling of South Carolina’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a comprehensive set of transportation safety strategies to increase highway safety and reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roadways.
• Results and recommendations from the Traffic Records Assessment that was completed this year by a national team.
• Results of an in-depth qualitative research project completed this year to gain psychological insight into of why so many motorists in South Carolina choose to drink and drive and not wear safety belts.

 

“Our hope is that the fruits of this effort will result in fewer of our citizens and visitors dying on our roadways,” Schweitzer said.  “Together, we must work to alter the mindset of motorists in our state. Gaining a better understanding of how people respond to our safety messages should result in a more effective effort to change the behaviors that far too often result in tragedy. As will be demonstrated during this conference, far too many South Carolinians fail to realize the true responsibilities that come with the privilege of driving.”