Lawmakers have to make changes to address the death toll on S.C. roads

Published January 9, 2006

South Carolina, with 1,084 people killed in traffic accidents in 2005, has the unfortunate distinction of having some of the deadliest roads in the nation -- a fact repeated too often in recent years.

The number of people who died on the Palmetto State's roadways in the year that just ended is the highest in 18 years. Couple that with the fact that South Carolina, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation study, has the worst record in the

nation for speeding-related traffic deaths, and there is ample cause for every traffic enforcement agency and lawmaker in this state to re-evaluate efforts to stem lawlessness on our roadways.

Past efforts clearly aren't enough, although traffic officials expect the state's primary seat belt requirement, which became law in December, to reduce fatalities by 10 percent. That drop is based on successes achieved in other states with strong seat belt laws.

In South Carolina, however, lawmakers have been slow to recognize trends in traffic safety that have worked in other states. The state's delay in adopting a meaningful seat belt law is a good example.

Lawmakers should address several problems that lessen safety on the roads: inexperienced drivers due to the state's young driving age, uneven enforcement of traffic laws and lax drunken-driving laws.

The governor has called for more law enforcement officers in his budget. Lawmakers should make sure the state's highways are adequately patrolled.

The state still allows 15-year-olds to get driver's licenses with only six months of supervision despite the fact that the youngest drivers pose a greater risk of causing accidents. The driving age should be raised to 16, and driver education should be required before earning a license.

And lawmakers should change the laws to get repeat drunken drivers off the roads, confiscating their vehicles and imposing longer jail sentences for repeat offenses.

Lawmakers have a duty to protect their constituents. They can do so by changing state laws to enhance safety on the roads.

User Comments

Add your comment now.

Re: AGE LIMIT
I can understand the 16 age limit but not the 70!!! There are many people over 70 that are very good drivers. There are people over 90 that drive very well. Drivers License should be issued on driving ability not age.
- Redshirt

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Driver Safety
As a lifetime resident of SC for nearly 50 years the biggest problem I see is people in a extreme hurry while in congested traffic. I don't think we need new laws or more speeding tickets for people running 10mph over limit. There needs to be a crackdown on people doing Idiot things in congested area's.
- Redshirt

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AGE LIMIT
16 and 70, no license until you 16 and revoked once you are 70.
- slaggate

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Laws to tell us how to behave
Yes, lets us make MORE laws to legislate MORALITY, which will never be fairly enforced!!
ON saturday evening, I noticed something ironic. While riding around town looking for a place to eat dinner with my wife, after finding most of our choices packed, we ended up at the food court of the mall.
While driving around we were cut off, sped past and encountered many IDIOT drivers who were obviously on their way to a fire.
Switch scene to the mall. Walking from one store down to the food court, we encountered NUMEROUS people who I would've passed if I was CRAWLING, they were walking so slow.
Why it that?
What is it that turns a person into a speed junkie when they get behind the wheel of a car?
Answer that question and you will have reduced the number of road deaths on the highways.
- Radelster

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