'100 Deadly Days of Summer' Underway in South Carolina
The summer months are upon us in South Carolina. It's a time when teens who are out of school and assorted vacationers take to the open road with friends to enjoy time off. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, however, the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are among the most dangerous for people on the roads. Law enforcement calls this time of year "the 100 Deadly Days of Summer."
As any experienced personal injury lawyer in South Carolina knows, the summer months are a particularly dangerous time for teenage drivers. This is especially true along the coastline, due to the potentially deadly combination of heavy tourist traffic and teen drivers from across the state flocking to the beach to enjoy their summer vacation.
WMBF News recently shed light onto what makes the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day so dangerous for teen drivers across the state. The report cites drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving as a few of the top causes of car accidents, some of them fatal, during the summer for teen drivers and their passengers.
Who's at Risk in South Carolina?
On average, WMBF News reports, an estimated 1,000 people die in South Carolina traffic accidents every year. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day - the "100 Deadly Days of Summer" - there were more than 30,000 crashes reported in South Carolina alone resulting in 200 accident-related fatalities.
South Carolina Highway Patrol Officials say the high influx of people traveling during the summer months leads to increased accident risk when drivers fail to follow the law. Speeding, drunk driving and a failure to wear seatbelts rank among the top causes of accident-related deaths in South Carolina.
According to CNN Living, teens are statistically proven to be at especially high risk during the summer months. From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012, the National Safety Council reported nearly 1,000 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers and more than half of those killed were teenagers.
CNN Living indicated it's important for teens to take all necessary precautions to keep themselves, their passengers and all other drivers safe. In addition to the obvious risks associated with drunk driving and driving recklessly, this also includes avoiding passenger distraction and texting while driving.
In fact, according to CNN Living, a study by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center revealed teen drivers engaging in loud conversations with passengers to be six times more likely to need to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a crash and three times more likely to get in a crash when engaged in horseplay with passengers.
Staying Safe This Summer in South Carolina
With more and more South Carolina drivers out and about to enjoy the summer months, it's more critical than ever before for drivers to take all steps necessary to prevent accidents. This includes avoiding dangerous behaviors such as driving drunk, speeding, or becoming distracted by cell phones or other passengers.
For teen drivers in particular, accident risks have proven to be exponentially higher. While educational efforts, parental supervision and bolstered law enforcement on South Carolina's roads this summer help, it's ultimately the responsibility of teens and all other drivers to make wise choices to reduce the risk of accidents.
A South Carolina personal injury attorney can help if you've been injured or a loved one was killed in an accident. Contact Twenge + Twombley today at 866-452-6315 for a free case consultation.