Deaths Due to Traffic Fatalities, Especially Motorcycle Accidents, Rising Steeply This Year in South Carolina
South Carolina has released traffic data regarding accidents and fatalities several times this year, and the news about traffic fatalities, especially motorcycle accidents and wrongful deaths, keeps getting worse. In September, 601 people died in car accidents, which was 107 more compared to the same time frame in 2014. Now, as of November 15th, over 825 people have died in car accidents on South Carolina’s highways, up from 709 last year.
This is one of the deadliest years for motorcyclists especially. So far, motorcycle accidents have killed 119 people in South Carolina, up from 83 this time last year. Although the group was not created specifically for this purpose, the Study Committee of Motorcycle Usage and Safety will look at the traffic fatality numbers and come up with recommendations for lawmakers in an attempt to save lives.
Some speculation already suggests that lower gas prices this year, compared to last year, have put more motorists on the road, which would naturally lead to more accidents. South Carolina also does not currently require motorcyclists to wear helmets if they are 18 years old or older, so motorcycle drivers who do not take that precaution are more likely to die from trauma if they are involved in a traffic accident. The September statistics suggested that 8 out of 10 fatal motorcycle accidents this year were due to a lack of helmets. So far, the number one recommendation by the safety committee is for South Carolina’s lawmakers to pass a mandatory helmet law.
However, Ralph Bell, chairman of the motorcyclists’ group ABATE, says lawmakers should take other precautions for other vehicles, not just motorcycles.
“If we work towards the actual operation, and work on distracted drivers, we feel that we can do what’s hard but make it safer for us,” he said after the committee’s meeting Friday at the Statehouse. “It’s not very easy to get the general public to watch out for motorcycles, and it’s not very easy to get older riders to take the training, but that’s where we need to go.”
Traffic fatalities were up for all drivers, which essentially appears to be due to failure to follow simple safety laws. Although South Carolina recently passed legislation to ticket drivers for texting and driving, the state still allows drivers to talk on cell phones while operating a vehicle. A considerable number of people still text or use social media and drive at the same time, even though the state considers that illegal. The state also has one of the highest rates of drunk driving in the nation, which makes the roads more dangerous for all vehicle operators and pedestrians. And, of the 548 motor vehicle occupants who died in car accidents this year, 283 of those deaths were because the occupant was not wearing a seatbelt, which South Carolina law requires.
For motorcyclists, it is essential to take safety precautions like wearing a helmet and protective clothing. However, it is equally important for other drivers to be aware of the other drivers around them, and practice basic safety themselves. Distracted, drunk, and reckless drivers should be held accountable for their actions because they put everyone else on the road in danger. If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has been killed because of another’s negligent or reckless driving, contact our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers for legal help.
