Mark Blair, Hartsville Police Department Public Information Officer
mark.blair@hartsvillesc.gov
843.383.3011

For Immediate Release — June 1, 2018

The Hartsville Police Departments asks vigilance during the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer”

Hartsville, SC – Another summer is upon us and as we make plans for vacations and summer fun, we feel obligated to remind everyone that we are entering the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” While the summer can a be a time to relax and have fun, it’s never time to relax while driving.

The period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend, unofficially dubbed the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” is historically a time when traffic collisions and deaths increase. More people are travelling during this time and there tend to be more inexperienced drivers on the road. Out of 264 drivers who died in traffic collisions so far this year, 133, over half, were not wearing their seatbelts.

Safe driving starts with always wearing your seatbelt and insisting that your passengers wear theirs as well. There are other simple things we can all do to reduce collisions and deaths on our roadways:

  • Never distract yourself from driving. That means no texting or checking emails when you’re behind the wheel.
  • Parents, speak with your teenagers about texting and driving and discourage all distracted driving.
  • Make sure children are in the appropriate child restraint and secured correctly. Visit buckleupsc.com for more information about car seats.
  • Obey the speed limit and slow down during inclement weather.
  • Maintain a safe distance behind other drivers so you have time to stop safely. A good way to judge and measure a safe distance for following another vehicle is to stay at least three seconds behind the car in front of you. To measure, start counting when the car in front of you passes a fixed object. It should take more than three seconds for you to reach that object.
  • Always be prepared to react safely when aggressive drivers approach.
  • If you decide to have a drink, drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Before you drink, give your keys to someone who is designated as your sober driver.
  • If you are taking medication, please check with your physician or pharmacist to see if it might impair your ability to drive.
  • If you observe a reckless or impaired driver, please call 911 or *HP immediately.

The Hartsville Police Department works every day to make sure our roads, and those on them, are safe. We will continue to participate in the Buckle Up South Carolina campaign with increased seatbelt and child restraint enforcement. Please read and understand the installation manual that comes with your child’s safety seat. Our DUI grant officer will be working peak hours to detect and arrest impaired drivers. We will also increase enforcement of speeding and other traffic violations. Keeping everyone safe so we can all enjoy our summers is our priority.

The Hartsville Police Department is committed to preserving, protecting and enhancing the quality of life in our community. They practice community-based policing and value partnerships with citizens and neighborhood organizations. For more information, visit hartsvillesc.gov/HPD, follow @HartsvillePD on Facebook, or call 843.383.3011.

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