Fatalities toll could reach record high if present rate continues

COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s 2005 highway death toll could break the all-time record by late December if traffic fatalities continue at current rates. As of Thursday, 967 people had died on state roads this year, compared with 889 at that time last year. And the time period with the highest number of road fatalities — the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays — are still to come.

Truck and auto accident deaths account for about 80 percent of all deaths on the roads, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The current record was set in 1972 when 1,099 people died on South Carolina roads.

Officials hope a new law requiring everyone in vehicles to wear seat belts will cut down on highway deaths. The law goes into effect Dec. 9.

(Associated Press)