PRESS RELEASE March 2, 2017

FCSO TRAFFIC SAFETY UNIT AT WORK TO REDUCE FATAL ACCIDENTS


The Florence County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit conducted enforcement operations throughout Florence County during the month of February 2017. The Traffic Safety Unit is made up of 6 Deputies, three of whom are funded by a traffic safety grant awarded to FCSO in October of 2016. The primary function of the Traffic Safety Unit is to reduce the number of traffic collisions and fatalities experienced in Florence County. Members of the FCSO Traffic Safety Unit will focus their enforcement efforts on roadways with a high number of collisions and traffic related deaths. Team members will also be concentrating on the traffic violations that lead to traffic deaths such as speeding, DUI, and seatbelt violations. All members of the Traffic Safety Unit are certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Breath Test Operators, Speed Measurement Device Operators, and two members are certified Drug Recognition Experts. Members of the Traffic Safety Unit that are paid for by the Traffic Safety Grant have received specialized vehicles and equipment, and their salaries will be paid for by grant funds for the next three years. The Traffic Safety Unit also participates with the 12th Circuit LEN and will be planning checkpoints throughout Florence County during the month of March.

For the month of February 2017 the Traffic Safety Unit logged the following statistics:

Traffic Violations
DUI: 8
Seatbelt: 80
Child Restraint Violations: 8
Speeding: 158
Driving Under Suspension: 34
Driving Without a License: 4
Uninsured Motorist: 7
Other Traffic Violations: 203
Total number of Traffic Citations: 502

Criminal Violations
Drug Arrests: 18
Fugitive Arrests: 7
Stolen Weapons Recovered: 1
Other Criminal Violations: 5
Collisions investigated: 11
Total Criminal Violations: 31
Safety Presentations: 4 (100+ People contacted).

The Traffic Safety Unit would like to stress the importance of pedestrian safety given that there have been a number of pedestrian related traffic deaths recently in Florence County. Pedestrians should always utilize a cross walk when crossing a street. When walking on a highway, pedestrians should always face oncoming traffic. If a sidewalk is provided pedestrians must utilize the sidewalk. It is important to remember that vehicles have the right of way on a highway unless the pedestrian is in a crosswalk. Pedestrians are also encouraged to wear bright or reflective clothing so that drivers can see them more easily. It is also encouraged to never walk on a highway while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. FCSO Traffic Deputies will be contacting pedestrians to ensure their safety during the coming months.

If your organization or group would like to host a Safety Presentation by the Traffic Safety Unit, please contact Corporal A.B. Fox at (843) 665-2121, ext. 302.

END

Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.