South Carolina drivers were involved in the fewest number of Thanksgiving traffic fatalities last weekend since 1964, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Only two people were killed on South Carolina highways during the Thanksgiving holiday, observed from Wednesday night through Sunday. Last year, nine people died during the same time frame. Only three people were killed in car accidents in 1964.
Despite the safe report, the Department of Public Safety said it needs more troopers to investigate a car crashes and clean them up faster. In emergency situations, other nearby officers will jump in. But the troopers still need to get there, and that can take up to 30 minutes, it said.
“DPS said 706 people have died on state highways so far this year, compared to 824 highway deaths in the same time frame last year,” according to news reports. “Of the 524 drivers and passengers who have died this year, 286 were not wearing seatbelts. In addition to the people killed in cars and trucks, 71 motorcyclists, 78 pedestrians and 11 bicyclists have died in 2010.”
As a North Charleston car accident attorney, I’m glad to see the number of traffic-related fatalities decline. I urge people to continue to wear seatbelts and avoid any distractions as they drive to continue to stay safe.