In response to a recent report issued by South Carolina Highway Patrol, Greenville Auto Accident Lawyer, Thomas Creech is not surprised at the findings: an increase in traffic fatalities in South Carolina. South Carolina has seen a whopping 25 % increase in deaths caused by traffic automobile accidents.
According to the National Safety Council, traffic deaths in the U.S. from 2014 to 2016 increased by 18 percent. However, the state of South Carolina saw a 25 percent increase. In North Carolina, the number jumped to 26 percent during the same two year time frame.
More traffic, increased distractions, and poor road conditions lead to higher traffic fatalities across the state of South Carolina. Remember, its is easy to call a death in a traffic accident a “fatality”-which is a generic term. But imagine if it were your loved one, or close friend, who died tragically in a preventable traffic accident. Deaths caused by auto wrecks are an unnecessary tragedy. All of us have to remember that its not just a “fatality”; in fact, its a the loss of a human being-the loss of a father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister – in a preventable situation. As a Greenville auto accident lawyer, I witness how car wrecks affect the lives of real people in our community. And its a terrible, terrible preventable tragedy.
What are some of the reasons for these high statistics? Our post last month on the program Target Zero discusses the state’s goal of eliminating traffic related deaths to Zero. Cpl. Bill Rhyne, of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, said several factors have contributed to overall increase in traffic deaths. One of these factors is the increase in traffic due to tourism. Whether toting our gorgeous parks or our fabulous food, our state, especially the Upstate, has received a lot of positive media attention in the past couple of years. This has resulted in an increase in visitors.
Another contributing factor to the increased traffic could be attributed to people relocating here. Rhyne said that in 2015, there was a 2.5 percent jump in the number of registered vehicles and a 2 percent rise in the number of driver’s licenses issued.
With more traffic on the roadways of course there will be more traffic-related accidents. Nevertheless, there are still other reasons for wrecks. Distracted driving , drowsy driving, and drunk driving are still factors in fatality related auto accidents.
So, please be safe out there and be a defensive driver. And follow this simple advice: Slow down. Give plenty of distance between your car and other cars. Get off the cell phone or smart phone. Keep your eyes on the road. Keep two hands on the wheel. Never drink or drive or drive while tired. Take safe driving seriously
If you or a member of your family were injured in a car wreck, contact Greenville auto accident lawyer Thomas Creech to talk about your situation and solutions. We will meet with you for free and find out if you have a case.