SC Authorities increase enforcement of distracted driving and speeding

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. – Distracted driving is already illegal in South Carolina, but authorities are cracking down on it with Operation Intercept.

“As the weather warms up, this actually coincides with the Easter season and spring break. More people are on the roads,” Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey said. “I would ask that you recognize that law enforcement is going to be out there enforcing traffic laws.”

Chester, York, and Lancaster County Sheriff deputies will be working with South Carolina Highway Patrol and other agencies to target distracted driving and speeding.

“Slow down, Obey the speed limit. Wear your seat belt. Keep your head up. Don’t drive while distracted. Certainly without using your cell phone and without a doubt. Never drive under the influence of any substance,” Sheriff Dorsey said.

Authorities say over the last three years more than 1,100 people have been injured in crashes along the “L Corridor” which includes South Carolina Primary 9 and US Primary 21. Authorities say distracted driving and speeding are two top factors in crashes.

“Getting distracted or speeding creates dangers that can quickly turn deadly. As your speed increases, the chances of you surviving a collision decrease along with the time that you have to react if something goes wrong,” Trooper Scott Darby with SC Highway Patrol said.

In the last three years, 17 people have died in the enforcement area. Authorities hope seeing more police will make people re-evaluate their choices.

“We have a lot of things going on in our life, but in hindsight, a lot of people wish that they had put the phone down in situations where it did lead to a fatality,” Trooper Darby said.

Authorities say this isn’t a numbers game to reach a quota. They hope the operation saves lives.

“We’re not doing this for numbers. We’re not doing it for a certain amount of citations. It is to get everybody to slow down and to reduce collisions,” York County Sheriff Tony Breeden said. “It’s not like it’s these five days and then we just don’t ever come back. So it’s just where we’re all focused on it together but then it will continue to be a maintenance piece that everybody will work on.”

Authorities say this operation will continue through the weekend. Even after the operation is over, they say you can expect to see more partnerships to stop distracted driving in the future.