Those of us who live in South Carolina have experienced the nightmare of slow-moving traffic due to aging roads: forcing drivers to leave extra early to make it somewhere on time, and then the chance of ending up in a traffic jam due to an accident.
Moving South Carolina Forward
Moving South Carolina Forward, a report by DC-based nonprofit The Road Information Program (TRIP), “looks at transportation in South Carolina. From conditions on bridges and roads to traffic congestion data, the report, released on September 22nd, highlights the biggest issues facing South Carolina’s transportation system.” (Counton2.com)
In the report (using data between 2015 and 2019), TRIP estimates that 43% of The Palmetto State’s roads “are in poor or mediocre condition,…and 8% of the state’s bridges are rated poor or structurally deficient.” (PostandCourier.com)
More statistics from the report indicate that Charleston drivers lost an average of 56 hours a year, and wasted 22 gallons of gas, totaling $1,165 annually, sitting in traffic. For Myrtle Beach drivers, an average of 32 hours were lost a year, 14 gallons of gas were wasted, totaling $745 a year. All this due to traffic congestion.
Aging Roads Cause Fatalities
Even worse than the cost for South Carolinian’s is the catastrophic number of fatalities caused by the aging conditions of roads and bridges. “In its 2021 report card, the American Society of Civil Engineers, a group that lobbies Congress to fully fund federal infrastructure programs, gave the state’s road and water infrastructure D-plus.”(TheState.com) The report card showed that in 2019, South Carolina roads had 1.72 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled; that’s the highest fatality rate in the nation.
TRIP’s Moving South Carolina Forward report estimates that, “From 2015 to 2019, there were 5,018 traffic fatalities in S.C., that’s around 1,000 people per year. ‘Clearly a number that’s far too high,’ said Rocky Moretti, the Director of Policy and Research for TRIP.”(Counton2.com)
For 2021, Department of Public Safety data from January 1 to September 8 reveals that South Carolina has already had 758 traffic-related deaths.(GreenvilleOnline.com)
Funding Infrastructure
“In 2017, the state Legislature passed the S.C. Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act, also known as Act 40, to fund repairs for the state’s crumbling roads and bridges.
Funded in part by increases in gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees, Act 40 provides an approximate $600 million annual boost to the state’s transportation coffers until 2027, funding road repair and construction projects across the state.” (PostandCourier.com)
TRIP’s report estimates the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will still face a $403 million gap in funds annually, for needed improvements to roads, highways and bridges.
Advocates hope a federal infrastructure bill will provide much-needed funds to help repair SC roads and bridges.
THE LAW OFFICES OF DAVID L. HOOD – SERVING MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
If you have suffered a collision in South Carolina, the legal team at The Law Offices of David L. Hood will help you navigate the situation professionally. We have years of experience in helping people involved in serious accidents figure out the legal requirements and details needed to move forward after an accident. After gathering all the necessary information, we will pour our efforts into building your case to get a fair settlement or take it to court if the need arises.
Our entire team has years of experience representing various clients and car accident victims in South Carolina. Having a passion to help, we offer a free initial consultation where we provide candid legal advice on what options you may have. If you choose to work with us, we promise a contingent-fee based case, where you don’t pay unless we get a recovery in your case.
You can find our contact information on the page here and schedule your free consultation session.
