[ad_1]
Greenville County leads South Carolina in freeway visitors deaths with Spartanburg County second, in accordance with a brand new South Carolina Division of Public Security report.
Between January and June 2, Greenville recorded 35 visitors deaths. Spartanburg County adopted with 25 deaths. Anderson County was fifth with 16 fatalities.
The numbers have been based mostly on a preliminary report the SCDPS compiles every day about visitors deaths in every county throughout the state.
South Carolina Freeway Patrol Trooper Mitch Ridgeway blamed the growing variety of fatalities on a mix of Greenville’s rising inhabitants placing extra individuals on the street and dangerous street security habits some drivers exhibit reminiscent of extreme rushing, distracted driving, and driving beneath the affect of medication or alcohol.
“It is one of many quickest rising areas within the nation…as a result of it is a fashionable place. There’s a whole lot of elements of Greenville which can be extraordinarily busy, and there is a excessive visitors quantity,” Ridgeway mentioned.
By comparability, the state’s different massive inhabitants facilities — Richland and Charleston counties — have had 18 and 23 visitors deaths, respectively, to date this 12 months.
Extra: It’s getting hot out: Here are the best settings for your air conditioner in South Carolina
The Upstate numbers characterize fatalities for nearly half the 12 months however already exceed or are inching towards exceeding visitors deaths for all of 2023. Final 12 months, Spartanburg County led the state with 37 deaths and Greenville was second with 31 fatalities. Greenville additionally led the state with 48 visitors deaths in 2022 and with 36 in 2021.
Progress blended with unsafe habits
In keeping with knowledge from the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenville County had a inhabitants enhance of 32,493 individuals between 2020 and 2023. Spartanburg County had an analogous enhance with 28,706 newcomers over the identical interval.
With these numbers rising, Ridgeway mentioned extra individuals coming to the county might result in extra people on the street thus presumably creating extra visitors.
“If there’s extra vehicles on the street, that’ll result in extra visitors collisions similar to any main metropolis in a state that you simply’re from. As compared, should you’re from a county the place it is fairly rural and it has three or 4 visitors lights, you are going to have lots much less collisions,” Ridgeway mentioned.
Unsafe driving, whether or not it’s driving beneath the affect, extreme rushing, or distracted driving, is contributing to the rise, officers say.
“Issues like impaired driving are very preventable usually in 2024 as a result of there’s extra info out now than ever on the risks of impaired driving,” Ridgeway mentioned. “There’s a whole lot of providers on the market now…You may be accountable and have a chosen driver deliberate should you resolve to drink.”
Extra: 83-year-old Greenville woman injured after being gored by bison at Yellowstone National Park
Greenville County Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis mentioned extreme speeds restrict a driver’s response time and make for tougher impacts when collisions occur. Coroners examine the causes of demise in visitors fatalities.
“Folks should perceive that once you’re going too quick for circumstances, it does not imply you are pushing the pace. It means you are touring too quick to manage that motorcar in an emergency scenario or in a traditional scenario,” Ellis mentioned.
Whereas the explanations behind crashes differ, Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger mentioned inattention, intoxication, extreme speeds, and the dearth of seatbelts, are among the many main causes.
“Don’t imbibe in medication or alcohol and try to drive,” he mentioned. “The lives of others could also be taken due to your actions.”
This text initially appeared on Greenville Information: Greenville and Spartanburg counties lead SC in traffic fatalities
[ad_2]
Source
