How Does Project Zero Affect Drivers?
When new programs and institutions are implemented to make the roadways safe, drivers need to be aware that the changes will often affect them in more ways than one. South Carolina lawmakers have been pushing for safer roads for the last decade and, while everyone would benefit from less dangerous traveling, drivers also need to be prepared that the increased enforcement will likely mean more traffic tickets.
Traffic citations in South Carolina are likely to increase as more measures are put in place to promote what is being called, “Project Zero,” or the goal of having zero fatalities across the state’s roadways. According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the number of crashes has decreased over the last 10 years and will hopefully continue to do so as researchers determine the riskiest situations and make plans to avoid them and crack down on offenders.
Some specific groups of drivers are being watched more closely and encouraged to practice safer driving techniques. These include those who very young or very old. The largest number of drivers involved in severe injury crashes includes those between 15 and 24 years old. Non-traditional motorists on the roadways, including pedestrians and those on bicycles, motorcycles and mopeds, are another area of concern that is meriting additional research into the education, policy, enforcement and engineering changes that could decrease the number of deaths in this group. Since improper actions by bicyclists account for almost a third of the deaths in this group, officials are seeking to provide better education and stricter enforcement for bike laws.
Certain areas, including railroad crossings and intersections, are also being more heavily patrolled. Some of the most dangerous areas on the road are work zones. Researchers claim that drivers who are cruising too fast for the conditions cause the highest number of crashes. In response to this, the state police department is making the monitoring of work zone areas a full-time position for 24 Highway Patrol troopers. While crashes in these areas have been cut in half since 2003, work zone tickets will also likely increase.
In other dangerous areas, such as busy roads, WTOC News reports that officers are being more watchful than ever and issuing tickets every five to eight minutes. This means that more and more drivers could receive traffic citations in South Carolina for what may be very small infractions and mistakes.