Applying successfully proven measures in roadway safety to reduce harmful collisions in SC.

Ogle, Jennifer H; Sarasua, Wayne; Davis, William J.; Huyhn, Nathan; Chowdhury, Mashrur (Ronnie) · 2017 · ROSA P / South Carolina. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Materials and Research

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (full text — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This 2017 report by Clemson University, commissioned by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), addresses the state’s persistently high roadway fatality rates, which consistently rank among the highest in the nation. The research was motivated by the need to identify proven safety measures from other states that could be adapted to South Carolina to reduce fatal and serious injury collisions. The study aimed to assess the potential safety improvements and economic benefits of implementing these programs, while also identifying legislative and policy barriers that currently hinder such initiatives in South Carolina. The research team employed a comprehensive, data-driven approach involving a national search for successful safety programs across engineering, enforcement, education, licensing, and emergency services. They selected specific programs for in-depth analysis based on the South Carolina Strategic Highway Safety Plan emphasis areas. The methodology included reviewing crash statistics, demographic trends, and legislative statutes to evaluate the feasibility of implementation. The team conducted cost-benefit analyses using U.S. Department of Transportation crash cost valuations and performed sociodemographic analyses to identify high-risk geographic areas. Key programs evaluated included clear zone reclamation for tree-related crashes, night-time seat belt enforcement, stricter Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) provisions, DUI courts and ignition interlock systems, speed camera enforcement, and universal helmet laws. The findings highlight significant potential for safety improvement and substantial return on investment for several countermeasures. For tree-related fatalities, reclaiming clear zones could yield savings of $26–$38 for every dollar invested, with crash reductions ranging from 27% to 60%. Implementing stricter GDL provisions, such as raising permit ages and restricting teen passengers, could reduce teen driver fatalities by 45%, with a return of $156 per dollar invested. DUI courts were found to offer a $49 return per dollar spent, while speed camera enforcement could save $13 per dollar invested and reduce fatal crashes by up to 50% at mobile camera sites. The report notes that South Carolina’s current policies, including bans on camera enforcement, limited GDL provisions, and weak DUI penalties, significantly undermine safety efforts. The significance of this research lies in its provision of a data-backed framework for policymakers to prioritize safety investments. The report concludes that adopting these proven measures, alongside necessary legislative changes, would substantially reduce loss of life and injuries. It emphasizes that a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach involving engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency services is essential for achieving collective efficacy. By aligning safety strategies with federal performance-based funding requirements, the implementation of these programs promises not only improved safety outcomes but also operational efficiencies and economic benefits for the state’s transportation system.

Key finding

Implementing clear zone reclamation, stricter graduated driver licensing, DUI courts, and speed camera enforcement in South Carolina yields estimated returns on investment ranging from $13 to $156 per dollar spent.

Methodology

review

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• regulatory evaluation
• driver education effectiveness
• comparative international
• automated enforcement cameras
• demographic disparities
• incidence prevalence

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations
• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes