Everyone believes that he or she lives in the state with the worst drivers in the country. Listen up if you live in South Carolina, because you just might be right. Using data obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2017, Car Insurance Comparison ranked all 50 states from most dangerous to least, based on:
- The fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled; and
- The number of fatalities resulting from the failure to obey traffic laws, drunk driving, speeding, and careless driving.
The complete results of the study provide rankings for each state plus the Washington, D.C. Some key takeaways include:
- With 35,092 in 2015, traffic fatalities are on the rise in the U.S.
- Driving on U.S. public roads is more dangerous today than ever
- America has more fatal crashes than any other wealthy nation
According to a recent Reader’s Digest article, every year since 2013, South Carolina has been ranked as one of the most dangerous driving states. 2017 is actually the first year South Carolina made it out of the top (perhaps “bottom” is more appropriate) five, ranking sixth in terms of nation’s worst drivers overall. Still, no state has a higher number of traffic fatalities than South Carolina, with 977 during 2017. Nearly 1,000 fatalities in one year in just one state is a catastrophic problem. The loss of hundreds of lives could have been prevented simply by driving safely!
South Carolina is now ranking in the “better half” of the U.S. for fatal crashes caused by drunk driving, a big part thanks to Emma’s Law which was passed in 2014 after six-year-old Emma Longstreet was killed by a repeat DUI offender. Emma’s mother, Karen Longstreet is quoted as saying “It’s like in South Carolina it’s okay for people to drink and drive. . . . It’s not. It can destroy families. . . . We didn’t do anything wrong. We were wearing our seat belts. We were on our way to church.”
These are just some of the sobering statistics showing the overwhelming danger of driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. Those who make reckless decisions are needlessly causing danger to other drivers on the road, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. With public and pressure for more strict enforcement of DUI laws from the government comes greater awareness of DUI consequences. This, in turn, creates cruel social stigmas when someone is charged with a DUI. Before such concerns surfaced, theses stigmas didn’t exist. A DUI conviction is seen as a moral and ethical problem, and often this is with good reason.
If you are facing DUI charges in Columbia, or anywhere in South Carolina, don’t go it alone. Contact Truslow & Truslow today for a confidential consultation by calling (803) 256-6276 or by filling out our email form.