Recklessness, drunk driving contributing factors to increased number of deaths
Recently, the number of vehicle fatalities in South Carolina has been increasing. There have been 47 deaths this month, as of Jan. 22. As a result of the many deaths occurring on our South Carolina roadways, the residents of this state should be fearful when driving. Last week, four people, two of them USC students, died in a tragic car accident that occurred in the early morning on George Rogers Boulevard. Law enforcement is currently looking into more patrol on our roadways, but that will only partly fix the situation.
Adding more patrol to the roadways will not prevent drivers from making irresponsible decisions. As student drivers, we need to be more cautious when driving throughout South Carolina. The most common causes of these fatalities are lack of seat belts, speeding and driving under the influence, all of which many college students do on a daily basis.
We need to be taking as many safety precautions as possible. USC is located in downtown Columbia between two hearts of nightlife, the Vista and Five Points, and therefore the chances of encountering drivers under the influence is naturally higher.
Following the speed limit and wearing seat belts are the easiest precautions to take while driving. Speeding, especially downtown, should be a “no-no.” The speed limit down Assembly Street into the Vista is 35 miles per hour, and the speed limit on Gervais Street toward Five Points is 35 mph as well. Downtown is full of nightlife and often attracts traffic, whether it is on a weekend or due to an event held downtown. Thus, speed limits are lower in this area than in rural areas, and it is a necessity that drivers in these areas adhere to these speed limits.
It should not have to be reiterated to adults the importance of seat belts, yet lack of seat belts is listed as one of the main causes of vehicle fatalities.
Last, the issue that college students have a harder time adhering to is not drinking and driving. Leaving parties and sporting events under the influence is an easy way to end up with a drinking ticket or worse. There are many alternatives to drinking and driving such as cabs and shuttles. Some of the off-campus housing facilities have special shuttles that take residents back and forth from Five Points. There are also designated driver services that are being used now as well.
Students need to take responsibility when driving to prevent South Carolina citizens from dying on the road. Law enforcement can do only so much. The first change needs to start with the drivers and the precautions they take.
Our duties as college students are to take these safety provisions seriously and do our best to obey to them. If students do not change their driving habits, the vehicle fatality rate will only continue to increase.
More Like This
In Brief: 10/18/15
By Mary Ramsey | Oct. 18, 2015In brief: 9/02/15
By Patrick Ingraham | Sep. 2, 2015