So far this week, we’ve looked at some of the common causes for the abundance of collisions and fatalities in South Carolina. Today, local experts share tips on how to best keep yourself safe on the roads.
South Carolina Highway Patrol Community Relations Officer Joel Hovis explained that avoiding bad decisions and paying attention while behind the wheel are key to staying safe on the road.
“Don’t drive distracted, obey the speed laws, wear your seatbelt, don’t drive while you’re drinking and pay attention to our vulnerable roadway users (such as motorcycles),” Hovis said. “If everybody would do that, I’d think you’d see a significant reduction in our traffic deaths here in the state of South Carolina.”
James Brookshire, an instructor at the BMW Performance Driving School in Greer, shared this focus on defensive driving while also noting the importance of being prepared for emergency situations so you know how to respond.
“Just be aware; don’t assume that anybody around you is going to do what you think they’re going to do,” Brookshire said. “Keep your distractions to a limit, don’t drink and drive, don’t text and drive. When you’re driving, be sure to focus on the task at hand.”
You can listen to the full interview with Hovis below:
