Published Thursday, May 08, 2008 2:20 PM
Updated Thursday, May 08, 2008 2:20 PM

 

Rep. Hutson introduces Citizen’s Remembrance Day

South Carolina State Representative Heyward G. Hutson has introduced legislation designating an annual "Citizen's Remembrance Day" to honor victims of fatal motor vehicle crashes in South Carolina.

According to bill H. 5043 introduced by Representative Hutson and co-sponsored by all members of the House Representatives, the fourth Saturday in every April would be designated as "Citizen's Remembrance Day." Hutson, of Summerville, is the state Representative for District 94 (Charleston and Dorchester counties).

Each year, the SC Department of Public Safety and the SC Department of Transportation honor victims of motor vehicle crashes. Representative Hutson said his legislation would ensure this day not only has an official designation but that the "victims are never forgotten."

"I believe it is important that we memorialize the victims of highway tragedies and acknowledge and support the grief of their loved ones," Hutson said. "By designating Citizen's Remembrance Day, our state would be focusing much needed public attention on safe driving.

This effort goes hand-in-hand with legislation approved by the General Assembly and Governor Sanford to reduce drunken driving on our highways." As of April 13, 2008, 255 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 259 in 2007. The mileage death rate on South Carolina highways exceeds the national average by 47 percent, with more than 2 people killed for every 100 million miles of travel. One traffic fatality is reported on South Carolina's highways approximately every 8 hours, 20 minutes, with 1,044 traffic fatalities reported in the Palmetto state during 2006. During the past 10 years, more than 10,000 people have died in traffic crashes on South Carolina highways.

The economic cost of traffic fatalities exceeds $2 billion per year, not to mention the intangible costs of grief and suffering borne by the families involved.