A major story is playing out on the roads of Beaufort and South Carolina's other 45 counties, one that the Legislature may want to examine when it convenes in January. While the rest of the nation is seeing a decrease in the number of highway traffic deaths, South Carolina this year is on its way to a record number of deaths.

The root of the problems, according to state and local officials is a lack of money -- for patrol officers and for adequate road engineering.

In Beaufort County a lack of funds for road engineering is being played out through a referendum to finance many necessary road improvements to cope with an increase in traffic because of permanent population explosion and tourism growth. As voters go to the polls in November to decide whether to speed up highway improvements, along with other capital projects, work is being completed on the last project (the widening of S.C. 170) which was financed partially by county taxpayers.

Prior to the current improvements, S.C. 170 was described as one of the most dangerous roads in the state. Rather than wait on the state to come up with the money, voters decided to spend their own dollars to pay for about 25 percent of the cost of the road.

A week ago U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said that nationwide 42,643 people died in traffic crashes in 2003, down 362 from the previous year. According to weekend stories from the Associated Press, 597 people died on S.C. roads in the first seven months of 2004, an increase from 538 deaths through a similar span in 2003. This is after an 8.1 percent dip in road deaths in 2002 and 2003.

A S.C. Department of Public Safety spokerpersons attributes the increase in deaths to a lack of Highway Patrol er on the road this year. Budget cuts have forced the cutback, lawmakers lament.

Of course, inadequate roads and a lack of troopers are only two contributors to the problem. Other contributors are inattention while driving, the fact that S.C. has far too many people who drive while intoxicated and speeders. Put all of these elements into the mix and South Carolina is a dangrous place to drive.

November's elections will determine in large part who returns to the state's legislative chambers in January. But highway safety should be on the minds of all who take the oath of office after Nov. 2. Among the things lawmakers should consider are:

Tougher seat belt laws to protect adults, as well as toddlers and adolesants;

A hike in the state's gasoline tax, which hasn't been increased in a decade and a half;

More funding for the Department of Public Safety.

All are necessary in order to improve highway safety in this state.