Weekend Watch: South Carolina Department of Public Safety cracking down on unsafe drivers

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is teaming up with multiple county and local law enforcement agencies to crack down on unsafe driving behavior.

From June 21 to June 2 3 , there will be an increased presence on several Upstate roads according to SCDPS.

“The SC Highway Patrol, the State Transport Police, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division – SLED , Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office , Union County Sheriff’s Office , and other law enforcement network partners will be patrolling from the roads and the air from Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23 along I-26, I-85, I-585, US-29, US-176, US-221, SC-290, SC-296, and other roads in the Upstate area,” SCDPS said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

According to South Carolina State Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway, Cherokee County, Spartanburg County and Union County will be targeted areas.

“What we’re calling it is, of course, is our area coordinated enforcement or ACE initiative, and this is basically just to reduce the number of fatalities in our state,” said Ridgeway.

According to him, 73% of “serious crashes” involve speeding. But besides speeders, Ridgeway said they’re targeting all unsafe driving behaviors including but not limited to distracted driving, driving under the influence and driving without a seat belt.

“If you have your seat belt on, you have about an 88% chance of surviving a serious motor vehicle accident,” said Ridgeway. Without it, he said you have a 94% chance of being ejected from your vehicle during a collision.

Some drivers say an increased law enforcement presence is the best way to deter unsafe driving practices.

“The mindfulness of the driver going onto the road, realizing that there’s camera out here so you’re not gonna speed from the beginning and realizing there’s police officers here so you decide to slow down,” said Shelton Mcdowell, an Upstate driver.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.