It is estimated that about 1.4 million South Carolina drivers used state roads to make it to their holiday destinations in December 2014. Holiday traffic is never a surprise, but for many of these drivers, the condition of these roadways may have caught them off guard. The state’s road conditions have been notoriously bad for some time now, but drivers saw them in their worst state yet over the holidays, with no plans for repair in sight.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation estimates that the primary roadways and interstates carry about 75% of the state’s traffic, even during the rest of the year, and that a significant amount of these routes are suffering from cracking, crumbling, potholes, and other poor surface conditions. Sudden flat tires, sometimes at dangerous speeds, have become a more and more common reality for South Carolina drivers on these routes.
The Department of Transportation has also complied numbers to reflect the state of these routes:
- 29% of S.C. interstates are considered “fair”
- 10% of S.C. interstates are considered “poor”
- 38% of S.C. primary roads are considered “fair”
- 46% of S.C. primary roads are considered “poor”
As we begin 2015, South Carolina legislators are still debating how to fund the repair of these roads and remain fixated on the issue of a possible rise in the state’s long-standing gas tax.
Careful Driving May Not Be Enough
As the state continues to pursue repair possibilities, countless S.C. drivers remain at risk on these routes. If you or a loved one sustained an injury in a car accident due to poor road conditions, George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can help you learn more about your rights and how we can help you recover the money you deserve – FAST!