SC roads are particularly deadly in the US, new report shows. Here’s by how much and why

Sarah Claire McDonald
Updated ·4 min read
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Driving is an enormous responsibility that many individuals might take for granted. Safe driving practices are essential while operating a vehicle to keep yourself, those in your vehicle and others around you out of harm’s way.

In an instant, distracted driving, driving while exhausted, texting and driving, driving under the influence, reacting with strong emotion such as road rage or any other dangerous driving practices can all result in life-altering results. Even if you are not the one engaging in these behaviors, it is still important to be aware of your surroundings while behind the wheel.

With many individuals working long hours, being a parental figure or going through personal troubles, sleepless nights can be a frequent occurrence for some.

However, after being awake for around 18 hours, effects on reaction time, vigilance, multi-tasking, and hand-eye coordination are comparable to having a blood alcohol content of 0.05% and after being awake for around 20 hours, drowsy drivers are impaired on a level equatable to a 0.08% blood alcohol content, which is the current legal limit in most states, reported the Sleep Foundation.

Mild and short-term sleep deprivation can cause dangerous impairments to one’s driving ability. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that sleeping between 6 and 7 hours a night doubled the risk of being involved in a crash, while getting less than 5 hours of sleep doubled it again, the Sleep Foundation states.

As for the most dangerous roadways in the country, the Palmetto State ranked quite high on the list, which was based on a recent study using traffic-related fatality data from 2020.

Law enforcement agencies from Horry and Georgetown counties came together to conduct a traffic checkpoint on Grissom Parkway in an effort to improve safety on area roads. Several vehicles were searched and and arrests were made. February 28, 2023.
Law enforcement agencies from Horry and Georgetown counties came together to conduct a traffic checkpoint on Grissom Parkway in an effort to improve safety on area roads. Several vehicles were searched and and arrests were made. February 28, 2023.

South Carolina has been revealed as having the third most deadly roadways in the nation, according to a report by Finn, a car subscription service.

A reason cited for the ranking was a lack of seat belt users in the state.

“Drivers in South Carolina face a higher fatality, as seat belt use is among the lowest in the nation, with more than 50% of traffic death victims failing to wear seat belts,” the report detailed.

The report looked at different states’ populations and deaths per 100,000 people across the country as well as the amount of fatal crashes recorded.

The report by Finn was based on the total number of road-related traffic deaths in each state in 2020 per 100,000 of the population from information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Among the top 10 deadliest states in the country, three of the ranked spots had a tie between states.

The state of Mississippi landed in first place as having the most dangerous roads in the country. This was due to the Magnolia State’s accumulation of 25 deaths per 100,000 people recorded.

By having mostly rural highways, this could be a possible explanation as to the high volume of lethal accidents in the state. These types of roadways are often more dangerous than urban roads as they tend to have higher speed limits and tend to lack proper police supervision, according to the report.

Wyoming ranked in second place with a reported 22 deaths per 100,000 people.

The dangerous driving conditions that residents frequently have to accommodate, which include the state’s mountainous terrain, were cited as a primary explanation for the high mortality rate in the study. Wyoming is prone to snow drifts, avalanches, landslides and slick patches of ice on roads, including black ice, which can be hard to detect for drivers in the area.

In third, South Carolina and Arkansas both tied for this ranking. Following just behind Wyoming, these states had a reported 21 road deaths per 100,000 people.

With seat belts being listed as a possible primary issue relating to the Palmetto State’s staggering statistics, the report cited rural highways as a possible contender.

“Up to 70% of fatal road crashes in Arkansas happen on stretches of rural highway, as they lack the safety features of more common highways like paved shoulders. Emergency services also have to travel a longer distance to reach a crash in these rural areas, increasing the likelihood of resulting fatalities,” the report detailed of Arkansas’ third place ranking.

According to the study conducted by Finn, the 10 states with the deadliest roads include:

  • Mississippi

  • Wyoming

  • Arkansas

  • South Carolina

  • Montana

  • New Mexico

  • Alabama

  • Louisiana

  • Tennessee

  • Kentucky