If you're going to drink, you'd better not drive, highway patrol says

While South Carolina's highway fatality rates are down this year, members of the South Carolina Highway Patrol have no plans to let down their guard.

This Labor Day weekend represents the end of an annually difficult time on the state's roadways, which the Highway Patrol has dubbed the "100 deadly days of summer."

Through Aug. 27, a total of 601 people have been killed on South Carolina's roadways in 550 crashes. That's actually down from last year, when 731 people died in 674 crashes during the same period.

"A drop in fatalities is not going to stop our efforts," said SCHP Lance Cpl. Jeff Gaskin. "Our primary goal is fatality reduction and one fatality is too many."

To that end, Cherokee County motorists are being advised the Highway Patrol will not only be out in full force this weekend but also will be joining forces with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Gaffney Police Department and the Blacksburg Police Department to keep roads safe.

"We'll be coordinating with the Highway Patrol task force and will have officers assigned," confirmed Gaffney Police Chief John O'Donald.

"We're going to be using DUI saturation teams, troopers specifically focused on DUI violations, and teams focused on seatbelt violations," Gaskin said.

In addition, the Highway Patrol will be participating in several multi-jurisdiction safety checkpoints throughout Cherokee County this weekend and Gaskin said troopers will be enforcing the speed limit on Interstate 85.

Those who plan to drink during the holiday are asked to use designated drivers and travelers are being advised to plan ahead for increased holiday traffic volumes.

Of the 601 people killed on the roads this year, the Highway Patrol said 298 were not wearing seat belts.