South Carolina: Second on Worst States to Drive in List

Clore Law · November 29 2014

According to a study published in USA Today, South Carolina has the second-worst drivers in America. In previous years, the state missed the top 10 by a hair, coming in at No. 11, but the number of car accidents has been on the rise. This year's top 10 list consisted mostly of southern states, with Louisiana taking first-place. How the Study was Performed Researchers pulled data from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The National Motorists Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. They looked at things like fatal car accidents, failure to obey laws, drunk driving and tickets, as well as careless driving. Then, they compared each state. States with the Worst Drivers

1. Louisiana
2. South Carolina
3. Mississippi
4. Texas
5. Alabama

States with the Best Drivers

1. Vermont
2. Utah
3. New Hampshire
4. Minnesota
5. Oregon

How South Carolina Stacked Up The states were ranked from 1-52, with 1 being the best and 52 as the worst. South Carolina consistently ranked in the upper-half across all categories.

• Fatalities Rate per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled: 49
• Failure to Obey Traffic Laws: 29
• Drunk Driving: 49
• Tickets: 38
• Careless Driving: 50

Major Concerns One of the most concerning things on the list is the number of fatal car accidents. Charleston County routinely makes the list of most dangerous places to drive in the state, with more than 12,000 collisions reported in recent annual statistics. Overall, South Carolina had 1.7 fatalities per million miles traveled. Drunk drivers are also a major issue. Sadly, 358 people were killed in needless wrecks caused by impaired drivers during the study period. A lot went into determining careless driving ranks. Researchers examined the number of pedestrians and bicyclists killed and came up with a fatality versus total population ratio. Combined, the rate was 2.73 deaths per 100,000 people. Solving the Problem While the study itself, provided no insight as to how to correct the issues, the rise in careless driving over the previous year is largely responsible for the state's position on the worst drivers list. These deaths were mostly caused by distracted drivers. People using their cell phones, engaged in conversation, adjusting the radio and performing similar activities, which took their attention away from the road, have caused the inordinate number of fatalities. In these situations, the only corrective measure is driver awareness. As for the high number of drunk-driving fatalities, the study may indicate that the state needs stricter penalties imposed for those who choose to get behind the wheel while impaired. Both these things play heavily into the overall number of fatalities.

Charleston Car Accident Attorney

If you have been injured, or have lost a loved one, due to another driver's actions on South Carolina's dangerous roadways, you may be entitled to compensation. If taken to trial, a court may provide allowances for medical needs, damages, and non-economic damages. Please contact us using our online form or speak to one of our lawyers by calling 1(800)610-2546 to discuss your case.