More troopers wanted on roads

A surge in the number of traffic fatalities on Newberry County roads is prompting the state Department of Public Safety to place more troopers in the area to try to slash that rate.

Ten people have died on Newberry County roads from Jan. 1 through Sunday. That number is higher than the combined total of traffic deaths in that time frame for the previous three years.

The number of traffic fatalities this year makes Newberry County one of the deadliest in the state, DPS spokesman Sid Gaulden said Monday.

Additional troopers began patrolling Newberry County roads Monday and will continue through May 23, DPS officials said.

A similar effort might begin later in Georgetown County where four people were killed in a collision Monday morning, Gaulden said.

Speeding, alcohol use and failure to use seat belts have contributed to many deaths, officials said.

Budget cuts also have led to a dwindling number of troopers in Newberry County and the rest of the state, Gaulden said. This contributes to the problem “to a certain extent,” he said.

And Newberry County is growing, which creates more traffic.

“We don’t have enough people working the roads,” he said.

Gaulden is waiting for the state budget to be finalized and hopes to be able to hire more troopers.

In the meantime, Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster is taking action. This summer, some of his deputies will be armed with radar units to crack down on speeders.

“It’s a terrible thing,” said Foster of the high number of fatalities. “I can’t just sit by.”

Normally, rural sheriff’s departments do not handle traffic patrol. But Foster was concerned after Silverstreet Mayor Janice Havird complained about drivers racing through town.

Silverstreet lies between Newberry and Greenwood and does not have a police department, Foster said. Its population is about 100, including many seniors.

Havird, who was elected mayor in November, said she ran because she wanted “to do something about excessive speed.”

The speed limit is 35 mph, but some drivers barrel through town at double the speed, she said.

Despite budget cuts, Foster said it is possible to put more troopers on patrol.

“I wish the Highway Patrol would reallocate some of their resources to put more people on the road. That’s what they need to do.”

Reach Leach at (803) 771-8549 or leleach@thestate.com.