PRESS RELEASE
December 22, 2016
AN OPEN LETTER FROM SHERIFF KENNEY BOONE ON HOLIDAY TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
The Holiday Season is in full swing and families will be gathering to celebrate all over the Pee Dee. This is a time of great joy and anticipation for both children and adults. Unfortunately, it can also be a time of tragedy and heartbreak for victims of traffic collisions. With an increase in holiday traffic volume an added dose of patience and attention to traffic laws will be needed. Observing all the traffic laws will go a long way to ensuring that your holiday travel will be safe, but two laws in particular are essential.
First, always wear your seat belt and insist that everyone in your vehicle do so as well. This will not prevent you from being involved in a collision, but it will give you the best chance to survive one. As of today 951 lives (currently 5 less than this time last year, but still too high) have been tragically lost on South Carolina roadways this year. Of that number, 615 had access to seatbelts and over half (311) were not wearing them. Clearly, the proper use of seatbelts and age appropriate child safety seats will reduce injuries and deaths on our highways, and we strongly urge everyone to use them.
Next and most importantly, don’t drink and drive. It really is as simple as that. This is a joyous time of year and some chose to celebrate with alcohol. We get it! The problem is driving after drinking. If you are going to a party or gathering, make up your mind ahead of time whether you intend to consume alcohol or not, and make arrangements accordingly. Choose not to drink, designate a driver, call a cab or trusted friend, but don’t get behind the wheel after drinking. The average cost of a DUI charge after it is all said and done is about $10,000.00. You could take a lot of cab rides for that amount of money. But more importantly, you can prevent the tragic loss of life; yours or someone else’s. That might just be the best Christmas gift you can give, even if it is for someone you don’t know.
Finally, our dedicated deputies, including our newly formed Traffic Safety Unit will be out in force and away from their families during the Holiday Season enforcing the traffic laws and attempting to keep everyone safe. That’s their job and they gladly perform it. So if you have an opportunity, please take the time to thank them for all they do, not just during the Holidays, but every day.
From all of us here at FCSO, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.
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