2012 Preliminary Highway Safety Trends in SC

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reports that a preliminary number of 837 people died on South Carolina roadways in 2012, compared to 828 traffic-related deaths in 2011. Vulnerable roadway users, such as pedestrians, bicycle, moped and motorcycle operators, and deaths resulting from lack of safety belt use were two of the areas showing the most notable statistical increases based on preliminary findings. However, South Carolina remains below the national average, which saw a 7% increase in highway deaths the first nine months of 2012. From 2009-2012, South Carolina had a 6.4% decrease in highway fatalities.  The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces these were the top five contributing factors for fatal collisions in 2012: Driving under the influence; Driving too fast for conditions; Failure to yield right of way; Running off the roadway; and pedestrians illegally in roadway.  The preliminary report also stated that the number of drivers or occupants with access to seat belts who died unbelted rose approximately 10 percentage points over last year.