South Carolina ranked as the second most unsafe state for drivers in the U.S. after Montana, according to a new report from Forbes Advisor.
The company determined South Carolina’s rank by analyzing five key areas from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — number of fatal car accidents per capita, total people killed in car accidents per capita, percent of fatalities from speeding, percent of fatalities from impaired driving and percentage change in total people killed in car accidents.
South Carolina tied with Colorado at 46% for the highest percentage of fatal accidents as a result of speeding. Impaired driving made up 36% of deadly traffic accidents in South Carolina, putting the state in the top 25 states for car accident fatalities due to impaired driving.
South Carolina also was the state with the fourth highest number of fatal car accidents per capita and the total number of people killed in car accidents per capita — ranking behind Mississippi, Wyoming and Arkansas in these two categories.
The report also indicated that fatalities on South Carolina’s roads have trended upwards in recent years. From 2019 to 2020, South Carolina’s number of car accident fatalities increased by 6%, the report said.
According to a City Paper story published last December, more people died on South Carolina highways in 2021 than in any year since 2018. Last year, 1,198 people died on South Carolina byways, compared to 1,067 people the previous year.
This year through Dec. 2, 957 people have died on S.C. highways. Click here to find the latest data.
Forbes Advisor offered tips for reducing risk on the road:
- Follow posted speed limits.
- Avoid driving after consuming alcohol.
- Check your car for necessary safety features.
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