Heading into the final months of 2004, state troopers are eyeing potentially volatile locations in the Pee Dee as part of their goal to prevent loss of life on area roads.
Among the more high profile areas officers are concerning themselves with is this week’s Eastern Carolina Agricultural Fair in Florence, an event which has become an annual catalyst for traffic headaches.
“We expect heavy congestion on (U.S./S.C.) Highway 76/301, from the Florence area to the Pee Dee River Bridge, each evening Thursday through Sunday,” said Lt. Darryl Kelley of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. “With major events like this, we will put forth a concentrated effort to make sure that motorists are aware of what’s taking place.”
Enforcement measures will be stepped up on that stretch of highway throughout the day in an attempt to curb speeding and other undesirable driving behaviors.
Meanwhile, today marks the fourth annual observance of “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day,” a national initiative promoting driver safety in response to the tens of thousands of Americans killed on U.S. highways each year.
South Carolina’s highway death rate remains one of the highest in the nation. In fact, motor vehicle crashes - resulting in three deaths per day - pose a greater threat to life and health in the state than crime, according to a S.C. Department of Transportation report.
Forced to maximize the personnel and equipment at their disposal in light of state budget shortfalls, the highway patrol’s hopes are that the same philosophy can be implemented elsewhere, including in Kelley’s Troop Five. That district encompasses the six Pee Dee counties, plus Horry and Georgetown counties.
The big picture, the lieutenant says, is building upon the progression of the past two years.
“We have reduced traffic fatalities each of those years and hope to make it three consecutive,” Kelley said.
Although agency data indicates a move toward that end at present, it has also sent up a red flag to officials.
Troop 5’s Post B - Florence, Dillon, and Marion counties - has recorded 36 fatal crashes, resulting in 39 total deaths thus far in 2004.
Of the those three, only Dillon County had experienced an increase (seven) compared to this time last year, highway patrol reports show.
Even more troubling are the contributing factors in those collisions, troopers say. Of the 39 victims, 31 were not wearing a seat belt at the time.
“Everybody hears it over and over again, but the no. 1 reason for traffic deaths is people not wearing restraints,” Kelley said. He also pointed out that speed/ driving too fast for conditions and driving under the influence are the major causes of wrecks in Post B between Friday evening and early Sunday morning.
“We look at statistics and numbers, but we also understand that each one of those represents a life and an affected family or community,” Kelley said.
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