COLUMBIA (WACH) -- A new report release today by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shows South Carolina is improving in the national rankings in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2009. After experiencing a six percent drop, the state went from second to third.
In addition to a decrease in alcohol-impaired driving deaths, the state experienced a 2.9 percent reduction in overall traffic fatalities in 2009. The state is on track to end 2010 with fewer traffic fatalities than last year.
“I’m pleased with the direction we’re heading, but too many people are still getting killed on our roadways,” said Mark Keel, Director of the SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS). “My hope is that the steps we’re taking this year with enforcement and public education will continue to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in this state.”
Preliminary year-to-date numbers show that as of September 14, 2010, 550 people died on state roadways compared to 639 during the same time period in 2009. Much of the decrease occurred during the summer stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day – 281 highway fatalities in 2009 compared to 208 in 2010.
NHTSA defines alcohol-impaired driving fatalities as deaths in traffic crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater.
SCDPS’ Highway Patrol and State Transport Police teamed up with other state and local agencies through the SC Law Enforcement Network to crack down on impaired driving. SCDPS’ Office of Highway Safety initiated a statewide billboard and TV campaign urging the public to call *HP or *47 to report suspected drunk drivers.
For more information on highway safety efforts, visit www.scdps.org, www.nhtsa.gov and www.dot.gov.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH