If you’re a frequent driver on South Carolina roads, you may have noticed new safety measures being added to roadways. And now, the S.C. Department of Transportation says those measures are working by reducing the number of car accident deaths.
The state has spent $5 million this year to add rumble strips to many of the state’s secondary roads, to prevent accidents from those driving off the road. Drivers often run off roadways when they are distracted or tired. The grooves in the pavement or strips adhered to the surface create noise from the tires, alerting drivers who have crossed the shoulder.
“Rumble strips were added to more than 2,800 miles of state roads. Preliminary figures show that fatalities have dropped nearly 21 percent on secondary roads where rumble strips were installed,” according to news reports .
From 2004 to 2008, more than half, 54%, of South Carolina car accident fatalities resulted when a motorist ran off the road, accounting for 2,794 deaths. So far this year there have been 655 deaths.
“While we believe one life lost on our highways is still too many, this year’s drop in fatalities is an encouraging sign and a positive trend we hope continues,” Transportation Secretary Buck Limehouse said.
As a South Carolina car accident attorney , I am glad to see the rumble strips are protecting drivers. The report also said state campaigns, including safety in highway construction zones, encouraging seatbelt use and DUI prevention are also making our roadways safer.