The Beaufort County paramedic, Danny Tinnel, who lives in the Jasper County community of Levy, and others aren't even sure if seat belts would have prevented the serious injuries of 35-year-old Esteban De La Cruz of Ridgeland, or the death of 28-year-old Taly J. Kornell of Beaufort on Wednesday, or the deaths of an elderly Beaufort County couple later Wednesday afternoon. But they and others know that in any number of other accidents seat belts could prevent loss of life.
Unfortunately, the weeks-long gridlock over seat belts in the S.C. Senate was met Wednesday with an agreement to kill a primary seat belt bill for the year -- even though the bill was supported by a Senate majority. Some supporters feared that continued debate on the bill would have jeopardized other important legislation this session, but we think that is a smoke screen.
Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said Wednesday that "Major pieces of legislation are starting to die ... ." But this is the same senator who said seat belt legislation would pass over his dead body.
South Carolina has a secondary seat belt law, which allows police to ticket adult drivers 18 or older for a seat belt violation only if they have been pulled over for another violation. Consequently, many people don't wear seat belts, including some of those killed or injured Wednesday.
The filibustering senators have contended for weeks that seat belt use should be at the discretion of the individual driver and that a primary law would be an infringement on a driver's liberty. That's phooey. There is no constitutional guarantee for operation of a motor vehicle. It's a right granted under state law, which also governs age to drive, speed and other highway rules and regulations.
Supporters of the bill, including those in the House of Representatives, which has approved the bill, have it right; it is a safety issue.
South Carolina has the third highest highway death rate per miles traveled in the nation. About 1,000 people die each year on state roads; two of them died on S.C. 170 Wednesday; a third died Thursday of injuries suffered in an accident on S.C. 170 on Wednesday. At least 100 of those deaths and 1,700 injuries statewide could be prevented each year, saving untold grief, pain and dollars, if a primary seat belt law was passed.
In an average year, only 67 percent to 69 percent of state drivers buckle up, according to state statistics, while in North Carolina and Georgia, which both have primary seat belt laws, use has increased to 84 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Both states reported increases in their seat belt usage rates after the primary enforcement laws were passed. But there is good news even in a failed bill in South Carolina this year. Publicity over the bill has increased seat belt usage to about 79 percent.
A five-year study conducted by the S.C. Department of Transportation between 1996 and 2001 shows that one of every 15 drivers in all age categories was involved in an accident. The number of accidents plus the death rate are reasons to pass such a bill.
The grief over lost loved ones and the pain and suffering caused by a dangerous highway has helped convince the S.C. Department of Transportation and environmentalists that U.S. 17 should be improved between Gardens Corner and Jacksonboro. Similar tragedies happen across South Carolina on a daily basis because someone wasn't buckled up.
Filibustering senators have done a grave disservice to South Carolinians by declaring a primary seat belt law an infringement on a driver's liberty. The dead have no liberty.