Preventing Car Accidents in South Carolina

100 Days of Summer Safety: The long days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are a time when many families hit the road and head for Atlantic beaches or drive inland to the forests and streams of the Carolina and Georgia mountains. But those days can also be deadly: 281 people lost their lives on state highways during June, July and August of 2009.
Encouraging citizens to be proactive about ensuring a safe return, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Law Enforcement Network, Department of Public Safety, and Department of Natural Resources recently announced their "100 Deadly Days of Summer" campaign to raise safety awareness on South Carolina's highways and waterways.

Drivers can take steps to avoid hazards like negligent truckers, drunk drivers and road construction, including limiting your speed, minimizing distractions, buckling up and avoiding alcohol before driving. The Highway Patrol cautions motorists to be alert for reckless drivers and to always use common sense when an aggressive driver follows too closely or cuts you off. Avoid confrontation and let the menace move on. Maintaining a safe vehicle is another crucial measure: replace worn tires and always check for proper inflation, adjust mirrors and keep them clean, and keep your engine running smoothly to avoid emergency stops on dangerous shoulders. If you have a flat, pull well to the side and place reflectors to increase your visibility. Every extra effort makes you and your family safer.

When Prevention Is Not Enough: Serious Injuries and Wrongful Death
Citizen efforts go well beyond prevention. South Carolina Families of Highway Fatalities, the group behind the "Drive Like Your Life Depends on It" bumper stickers, holds blood drives every summer as blood donations decrease but demand due to motor vehicle collisions increases. In the busy summer travel season, your chances of a catastrophic accident escalate - two of three South Carolina traffic fatalities in 2009 happened during this busy three-month span. If you or a family member has been injured in a car wreck or truck accident, an attorney can explain your legal rights and options, and help you contemplate the first steps toward recovery.