Urgent crackdown on ‘unsafe’ driving launched as cops look to apply vital measures with 94% chance of keeping you alive

DANGEROUS drivers have been targeted in a weekend-long police crackdown – even those who failed to follow basic life-saving measures.

Officers hope increased police efforts will encourage drivers to adopt safer habits.

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From June 21-23, the South Carolina Police Department cracked down on major dangerous driving habits to reduce traffic death statistics across the state.

Six departments teamed up on eight major highways and deployed additional state troopers to pay special attention to dangerous drivers.

“The SC Highway Patrol, State Transportation Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division – SLED, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office and other network partners Law enforcement will be patrolling the roads and air starting Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23 along I-26, I-85, I-585, US-29, US-176, US-221, SC-290, SC-296 and other roads in the northern area of ​​the state,” the South Carolina Department of Public Safety wrote in Facebook.

Three large counties were the main targets of the crackdown: Cherokee, Spartanburg and Union.

“What we’re calling it is, of course, our coordinated area enforcement or ACE initiative, and that’s basically just to reduce the number of deaths in our state,” Patrolman Mitchell Ridgeway told the CBS affiliate. WSPA.

Ridgeway, which has patrolled the state’s highways for decades, has seen its fair share of accidents.

Most, he said, were a direct result of exceeding the speed limit.

Other dangerous habits were targeted over the weekend, such as distracted driving, driving under the influence and not wearing a seatbelt.

Ridgeway told the outlet he’s always shocked to see how many drivers choose not to wear a seatbelt.

Especially since there is almost a 100% chance of saving lives in an accident.

“If you have your seat belt on, you have about an 88% chance of surviving a serious car accident,” he recalled.

Without a seat belt on, there is a 94% chance of being thrown from a vehicle windshield.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50% of passengers in accidents without seat belts have died.

“One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up,” the NHTSA wrote in its Buckle Up America Web page.

“Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to ensure you and your family are always properly restrained. ”

Proper Conduct During a Traffic Stop

According to the ACLU, there are some tips to ensure a smooth traffic stop, regardless of the violation.

1. Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from traffic as quickly as possible.
2. Turn off the engine, roll down the windows and place your hands on the steering wheel. If it’s dark outside, turn on your interior lights to give the officer a good view. If you are in the passenger seat, keep your hands visible.
3. Take your purse or wallet, registration and proof of insurance only when instructed to do so by law enforcement officers. Do not reach the glove compartment until asked to do so by the officer.
4. Don’t make sudden movements. Narrate everything you are doing, i.e. “I’m getting my bag from the backseat.”
5. Keep your tone calm and respectful.

Source: ACLU

The exact number of citations issued as part of the campaign was not disclosed at the time of publication.

However, a speeding ticket can be incredibly expensive for South Carolina drivers, with a $350 fine for exceeding the posted speed limit by 25 mph or more and six points added to your driver’s license.

A ticket for reckless driving costs $500 plus six points toward a driver’s license, and texting while driving can get you a $100 fine.

Some drivers, like Shelton McDowell, think the effort will inspire drivers to be more careful.

“The driver’s attention when entering the road, realizing there’s a camera here so you’re not going to speed up from the beginning and realizing there are police officers here so you decide to slow down,” she said.