Pedestrians, Motorcyclists Fuel Spike in Road Deaths

Traffic fatalities are on the rise in South Carolina in 2011 after a three-year decline, and officials say an increase in pedestrian and motorcycle deaths is to blame.

Through Oct. 30, 691 people have died on S.C. roads this year, according to spokesman Sid Gaulden of the S.C. Department of Public Safety. Through the same date last year, 673 have died.

"We are in line to finish the year below 1,000 traffic fatalities for the fourth year in a row, although the number may be up marginally over last year," Gaulden said.

The most-striking statistic, however, isn't the total fatality statistic, but a marked increase in specific kinds of road deaths. Those deaths, officials say, negates improvement made in traditional traffic fatality rates.

"One of the big areas is we've seen a lot more motorcycle and pedestrian deaths," said Lance Corporal Bill Rhyne of the S.C. Highway Patrol. "They more than offset our fatalities just involving automobiles."

Though Charleston County has a relatively high fatality total in 2011 compared to the rest of the state with 40 deaths, the county is not experiencing quite the same increase. Fatalities are down from 2010, when 44 deaths were reported through Oct. 30. 

Charleston County saw five motorcyclist fatalities, and six pedestrian fatalities in 2011 through Oct. 30, and .  Further up the coast, Horry County leads the state in both categories.

Berkeley County's 31 traffic deaths through Oct. 30 are up dramatically over the 23 deaths for the same period a year ago. But they are lower than the 36 and 37 deaths for the same period in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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Dorchester County's 11 deaths are the same in 2011 as they were in 2010 for the same period, and lower than the 2009 and 2008 totals of 18 and 21, respectively. 

Earlier this year,  in the Lowcountry, dubbed the "Death Zone." And on Sept. 30, .

The focus at the state level seems to be the rise in pedestrian and motorcycle deaths.

In 2010, 70 pedestrians and 76 motorcyclists had been killed on South Carolina roads through Oct. 30. So far this year, 92 pedestrians and 92 motorcyclists have been killed as a result of traffic collisions. 

"We are in the process of putting together a program aimed at better informing pedestrians of the dangers present on South Carolina roads," Gaulden said.

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Over the last three years, the state's highway patrol has focused primarily on seatbelt violations, DUI and speeding, Gaulden said.

Rhyne said the department is in the process of making a "heavy push" toward informing the public of pedestrian laws for their safety.

Gaulden anticipates a joint effort between local agencies with the State Transport Police, South Carolina Highway Patrol and State Bureau of Protective Services to limit traffic fatalities as the state enters the travel-heavy holiday season.

"SCHP, STP and BPS will be partnering with local law enforcement across South Carolina over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays in a joint effort to reduce the number of highway deaths," Gaulden said.