DPS and SCDOT Introduce Trooper Team for Target Zero Campaign

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — On Wednesday, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation announced a 24 trooper team to help reduce fatalities across the state. The 100 deadly days of summer known as the most dangerous time of year for motorists as more people hit the roads to enjoy the final weeks of summer. “So far this summer, 159 people have died on our roads, that compares to 149 at this time last year, this is not acceptable, “ said SC Highway Patrol Col. Mike Oliver . In an effort to reduce that number, Col. Oliver said the highway patrol is implementing a 24 trooper team who will patrol four specific regions across the state looking for the violations that are the leading causes of death and collisions in South Carolina. “These violations include DUI, failure to use a seatbelt, and speed,” explained Col. Oliver. “Our troopers see horrible crashes on a daily basis because of one of these factors or a combination of them, which causes these crashes and fatalities,” said Col. Oliver. The new team of troopers is the latest phase of the ‘target zero‘ campaign, a statewide goal to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths to zero. “Our goal is zero deaths but unfortunately over 800 South Carolina motorists each year die on our roads, this is unacceptable and unnecessary,” said Christy Hall from SCDOT. “We believe the loss of even one life, is one life too many because that life is not a statistic, it’s somebody‘s family member or somebody’s friend,” said Col. Oliver. While troopers will be out in full force, officials said achieving target zero starts with motorists. “It goes back to personal safety and protection, protect yourself, wear your seatbelt,” said Col. Oliver. “Be sure that if you’re going to drink, don‘t drive.” The four regions include Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville. In Columbia, troopers will focus on I-26 and Lexington County, I-26 US 1 and SC 48 in Richland County.