FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2007

CONTACT: Sgt. R.K. Hughes, 803-896-7920

 

SCHP AWARDED GRANTS TO ENHANCE SAFETY ON ROADWAYS,

ASSIST FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES

 

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Highway Patrol announces that it has been awarded three grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) totaling $318,671. The grants will add two additional troopers to the SCHP Motorcycle Enforcement Team ($203,590); allow SCHP to develop a public education campaign/curriculum to address motorcycle fatalities ($75,000); and continue the department’s Families of Highway Fatalities’ program ($40,081).  

 

The motorcycle grant will allow the Highway Patrol to hire two troopers for the Motorcycle Enforcement Unit and fund the purchase of their motorcycles and related equipment. These two motor units will be used specifically to work the high-crash interstate corridor of I-26 that runs through Orangeburg and Calhoun counties. The purpose of the additional enforcement is to reduce traffic collisions and fatalities in those areas especially targeting speed and alcohol-related collisions.

 

From 2004-2006, there were 664 collisions on I-26 in Calhoun County. This accounted for 54 percent of the county’s total collisions. Calhoun County ranked fourth in the state for fatal/serious injury collisions caused by speed.  Orangeburg County had 808 collisions on I-26 during that same time period, accounting for 11 percent of total collisions. Orangeburg County ranked fifth in speed-related collisions.

 

The troopers will begin patrolling in the area in Spring 2008.

 

The Highway Patrol was awarded a second grant to develop a motorcycle safety awareness program in response to the rising motorcycle fatalities in the state in recent years. The goal of the program is to reduce motorcycle collisions and fatalities in the state. The grant funding will be used to develop a DVD instructional/safety presentation geared toward inexperienced riders. The video will use the expertise of the Highway Patrol Motor Units to demonstrate proper riding techniques, highlight some of the most common collision causes and how to interact with the motoring public to prevent collisions.

 

The DVD, along with printed materials, will be distributed to motorcycle dealerships around the state. The department will work closely with motorcycle groups and apply some of the recommendations from the SC Department of Public Safety’s Motorcycle Safety Task Force in development of the awareness program.

 

The third grant is to continue the 2007 grant award for the Families of Highway Fatalities’ program. This program, housed under the Highway Patrol, assists families who have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle collision. In addition to providing access to counseling and other services, FHF members work closely with the Highway Patrol attending safety talks and other functions to raise awareness of deadly driving behaviors. FHF members also serve as advocates for safety in their community, distributing safety literature etc.