Study cites dangers of area's rural roads
By Dave Munday
The scenic, tree-lined roads to the exclusive resorts on Kiawah and Seabrook islands are some of the most dangerous rural roads in the nation, according to a report released Tuesday.
The study was done by TRIP, a transportation study group based in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the S.C. Alliance to Fix Our Roads, a group urging more state money for rural roads.
The Post and Courier
With its tree-lined curves that limit visibility, River Road on Johns Island was named one of the most dangerous local rural roadways.
The results were announced at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. Business leaders are concerned that unsafe rural roads are hurting tourism and commerce, as well as costing lives, Chamber President Thom Penney said.
The study compared the number of serious accidents with the number of miles traveled between 2002 and 2006 to come up with an accident rate. TRIP relied on the state Department of Transportation for accident and traffic data.
South Carolina has the highest rural traffic fatality rate in the nation, according to Carolyn Bonifas, TRIP's associate director of research and communication. The accident rate on the state's rural roads is 52 percent higher than the national average, she said.
A big reason the state's rural roads are so dangerous is that they carry so many motorists with the increasing population, the study notes.
The two most treacherous stretches of rural roads in the Charleston area are on Johns Island between Kiawah and Seabrook and Charleston, according to the study. There were 28 fatalities on those two stretches during the study period.
The results were no surprise to Seabrook resident John DuBois, who said he would have joined the accident statistics recently if he had not been paying attention.
DuBois, a Seabrook Island Town Council member, was driving from his house toward Charleston one recent morning, going past the horse farms along Bohicket Road. A pickup truck driver talking on a cell phone bounced off one of the big oak trees that line the road, veered into DuBois' lane and kept on trucking. DuBois had to drive off the road to avoid being hit.
"It is dangerous," he said of the road. "It really is dangerous."
But he's not sure what to do about it. He certainly doesn't want to move the trees. He favors building an alternate route, but says many residents oppose anything that might spur more development.
The chamber and the alliance hope the study encourages state lawmakers to give the Department of Transportation more money to make rural roads safer.
"This is a killer," said Bobby Clair, a former DOT project manager who is on the road alliance's executive committee. "We've got to do something about it."
DOT has been working to improve rural roads under a program called CRISOS, or Crash Reduction by Improving Safety on Secondaries, the report said.
Most of the roads the report identified were improved within the last couple of years, including putting wider shoulders along Chisolm and Main roads, according to Robert Clark, DOT's engineering administrator for the Charleston district.
DOT will have to compare accidents before and after the improvements to see what other changes might be justified, he said.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
postman01 (anonymous) says...
Sanity rears its gorgeous head.
Instead of retarded garbage about "scenic beauty" and keeping John Island "rural", this acknowledges that human life and safety trump the idiocy we have been enduring for far too long.
We can have both. The shockingly limited either/or mentality I am dissecting here is incapable of grasping this concept.
February 13, 2008 at 4:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jifdeng3 (anonymous) says...
What I also find interesting is the fact that a cell phone was involved in the cited incident. When is the United States going to realize that you should get into a car for one purpose, and that is to drive. Not put on make up, eat breakfast, read The Post, or do any of the multitude of things people should do at home and not on the road. Get out of bed 20 minutes earlier. Is you life worth that? As a local emergency worker, (fire and EMS) I have seen the result of these crashes. Not too pretty most of the time. Please, Lawmakers, do something about this. You mandate seatbelts and want to mandate helmets how about doing something that will help more than those two things and that is make inattentive driving a crime, and punish it heavily.
February 13, 2008 at 6:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
Still zero documented cases of any oak trees stepping out into traffic.
Maybe the cellphone is the problem, not the tree?
February 13, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PI_Observer (anonymous) says...
The roads are only part of the problem. The speed at which people drive on those roads is the real issue. You can also add cell phone conversations, eating, putting on make-up, and not paying attention as other contributors. You might be surprised at how many of those accidents on Bohicket Road involve only one car, and how often alcohol is involved. So, is it the road, or the driver???
February 13, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
Years ago back in 1900 + eighty, before Hugo and the Ryder Cup the road to Seabrook Island was a wonderful two lane tunnel of live oaks and Spanish moss. Somehow, sober people not using cells phones, and not in a hurry managed to make the trip along Bohicket Road with out having a tree jump in front of them.
Then progress and growth came, soon followed by the other two horsemen of the apocalypse, greed and arrogance and with them the need to improve.
Looking back I can honestly say new and improved is not necessarily better.
More on two lane black top highways at:
http://postandcourierblogs.com/life_f...
February 13, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pag (anonymous) says...
JohnQ... apparently you didn't read the part of the article that stated they "are some of the most dangerous rural roads in the nation"... And apparently you have the misguidance of thinking that the only purpose of these two roads is to lead tourists to their "gated communities". If you took the time to travel that way you would realize that houses, farms, and small neighborhoods line the roads that lead to Seabrook and Kiawah. Johns Island is growing you moron... and our locals risk their lives daily on these two narrow roads lined with huge oak trees. Many of the trees don't even have bark on them anymore because they've been hit so many times! The speed limit on Bohicket being 50 mph doesn't increase ones odds either.
February 13, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
Statistics are used to get more money. I was just stuck in traffic yesterday for 4 hours, just to get 20 miles, yet they claim all the money they have spent to improve the roads here in VA, was to avoid what happen yesterday. The roads are not the problem in SC, its the drivers. I lived on Riverland Dr on James Island, and they put up 100's of more houses and the accident rate did not go up. Everyone knows, theres a big oak tree on Riverland Dr, that don't move for anyone. I love that back road. It reminds me of how wonderful I thought life was when I was growing up around there. So stop taking people land to make the rich happy. Bet you can't take there land to widen the road.
February 13, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
The roads are only as safe as the drivers.
I think anyone with more than X# of traffic violations should have a mandatory governor installed on their vehichle (like they put on kids go-carts) and a cell phone scrambling device. That would slow them down and end the cell phone distraction.
February 13, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
As many as I have travelled, I never even considered whether a rural road was a bad or not. It just never occurred to me to put a rural road behind the wheel of a vehicle. Maybe we ought to set up remedial schools for rurals roads and punish those roads that drive poorly or carelessly drive into people and other rurals roads. Maybe we can just make a death sentence for these rural roads; that would make them a good rural road then, for sure.
February 13, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
theronce - That's funny!
Then the really good roads would be known as "Roads Scholars"
I'm glad to see the Post and Courier is active today as well. There's no need for name calling though it does remind me of 3rd grade recess.
February 13, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johnwen (anonymous) says...
Reduce the speed limit to 40 and put up guard rails.
February 13, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
I see that the NIMBY idiots JohnQ and PalmettoMan are in full swing for this article, despite the graphic, blatant common sense that has appeared in it. This desperate attempt to remain "rural forever" will only continue to maim and kill people on the roads...case in point: US 17 between Jacksonboro and Beaufort. There comes a time when infrastructure HAS to be improved, and the infrastructure on Johns Island is waaaaaayy past that point.
What I find truly amazing is the shear incompetance and stupidity of state and local agencies who do nothing to make these roads safer. In addition, it sickens me to see the beligerent dumba$$es who obstruct and prohibit widening and building of roads to make them safer.
Enforce strict zoning laws to keep the majority of the island rural, build and widen existing roads, and finish the I-526 extension with only one point of access to and from the island. That is what should be done. Have a vision, for crying out loud!
February 13, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
843allday (anonymous) says...
The real issue is that they feel it is hurting tourism. I've lived on Johns Island(near Bohicket and River Roads) for 22 of my 30 years. And I have never had one accident, or ever felt that Bohicket or River Roads were a danger to my life.
The solution is simple, get off the phone and pay attention to what you are doing!
February 13, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
Most all of those cases were the fault of a driver not the road. The problem here is people drive too fast and maybe are not paying attention while driving along these roads. In a rural area you have to expect not to have good lighting and you may have animals come out in the road. Those Oak trees will no move so you better pay attention.
February 13, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
Nice rant icbmman. Just how much wider do the existing roads need to be to make them safe for speeding, multi-tasking, drunk drivers?
Safe drivers make safe roads, not vice versa.
February 13, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
843allday (anonymous) says...
I find it interesting how all these changes need on Johns Island, up to the point where you reach Kiawah and Seabrook. Its ok for them to have all their restrictions in place to ensure those island remain rural. Rip Johns Island a apart, yet you nearly have to walk in complete darkness on Kiawah at night because they don't want to install proper lighting because it disturbs the wildlife....Just ridiculous!
February 13, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
843-The solution is simple, get off the phone and pay attention to what you are doing!
Amen!
So you don't like the people on Kiawah because they are saying give us a 4 lane to our door step but not in our back yard?
or
You have to....walk in complete darkness on Kiawah at night because they don't want to install proper lighting because it disturbs the wildlife....(which is) Just ridiculous?
???
Personally I like the dark. I think I was maybe 15 the first time I stood on a beach far from the city lights and I was amazed at all the stars that had been hidden from sight because of the street lights.
People are strange I have a neighbor who complains about the golfers in our backyard and the deer who eat her pansies .... so why did she buy a house on a golf course...
Golfers are very entertaining... Hummmm I'm so thinking Bill Murray
People are strange I have a neighbor who complains about the golfers in our backyard and the deer who eat her pansyies
February 13, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
843allday (anonymous) says...
Does this study show how many of these accidents had alcohol, speeding, or cell phones as a contributing factor? Mr. Munday, can you confirm this information?
February 13, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
I have never seen so many vain attempts to make excuses for confused thinking and poor planning in my life,.
I also note the childish jealousy of people who are well off financially.
It's quite frankly pathetic. These rich people spend a lot of money and employ many local people in different occupations. The contention that they should receive SECOND CLASS treatment when they pay the bulk of the taxes that support local government is retarded nonsense. Where is the working man volunteering to make even a small gesture, like $10-$20.00, just to ptich in for their own benefit?
By the way, I don't live on either. It's just that I realize how utterly stupid and destructive the emotions of jealousy and envy are. This is why a man like me of ordinary means says that most posters here are full of it, especially since people are dying.
Are the jealous and envious prepared to say EXPLICITLY(rather than implicitly) that people of a certain socio-economic class should DIE on inadequate public roads because they're financially well off?
This is what blows my mind. Supposedly decent people very clearly intimating the preceding due to class envy.
Some of us have a long way to go. In this case, it's the working stiff--not the well off, most of whom EARNED what they have my working smart and hard--the American Way.
As for those who see it my way, you are BETTER than the other posters here. Hats off to you.
February 13, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hey_U_Guys (anonymous) says...
The only reason the main focus is on River Road, is because the rich people are bitching about the crappily paved road and it only being 2 lanes. They should chill out, it turns into 4 lanes the closer you get to Kiawah and Seabrook. Most of the accidents are caused on the John's Island side, anyway. How about fixing up Hwy's 78 and 178? Those REALLY need help. Those are out in Jedburg, St.George, Harleyville...they aren't high priority.
February 13, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I envy none of what they earn or rightfully acquire. I am one of the best friends of the well-to-do in this state. I already help pay for their property tax over 15%, and I will shortly help pay for the sand in front of their private beach. So, postman, don't you try to stir up trouble between my friends and me. My friends have the likes of me and me right where we deserve to be. They are smart, and we are dumb. That's why we keep electing them and their friends.
February 13, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
Postman: wow, apparently you're quite the authority on everything, and all those who agree with you deserve a big pat on the back. You say you don't live on these islands, yet you're quick to give the final word on the situation.
How about this side of the story: I've traveled the entire length of Bohicket Road round-trip at least 5 times a week for the past 12 years. These rich people you claim I'm so jealous of provide my livelihood, and I'm extremely grateful.
My beef is people who think we need to widen roads because some idiots can't keep it between the lines.
And by the way, I'm quite certain that the majority of deaths that occur on this road involve everyday, working-class citizens of Johns Island, not the wealthy Kiawah residents you claim are being treated as "second class citizens."
You have no idea what you're talking about.
February 13, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
843allday (anonymous) says...
Theronce, Yeahright,John Q, and Hey_U_Guys, "My hats off to you."
February 13, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Yeahright, oh, I don't know...how about the industry/national standard of four lanes with soft shoulders, proper trimming of overhanging branches, and guardrails near large oaks? I'll agree with you halfway; the drivers and their dumb habits in this state are partly to blame for the problem. But in an environment like the highway, you can't completely control people, and people can be quite stupid. However, the city's infrastructure is poorly maintained, and there are no adequate plans to modernize and prepare for the future. This compounds the problem and makes it worse.
The backwards thinking of the people here demonstrates that this city and this state will never truly progress to the 21st century. Case in point: MotorYacht's quote: "Personally I like the dark...I was amazed at all the stars that had been hidden from sight because of the street lights." If you want to see all the stars, drive out to the country! More importantly, you don't need to be stargazing on the freaking road!!
Streetlights are an important safety feature in a metro area's streets and highways, and the Chas area is notorious for a lack of them. They help with road visibility and allowing drivers to see other potential hazards like animals or people on or near the road. Having 4-lane roads allows drivers more room for error, gives drivers a safe passing lane around slower traffic, and resultingly provides a quicker route to destinations in addition to preventing costly damage to property and the natural landscape. These are so elementary, and yet, so many numbskulls refuse to see it.
February 13, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
Please, Please! people, don't cut these beautiful trees down! I will cry....
Move slower, drive safer, live better.
But don't cut these down!
February 13, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
PalmettoMan, your stupidity shows with your absurd accusations of me having some connection with "developers". I could try to make the same connection with your NIMBY mentality as being connected with the obstructionist, environmentalist whackos of the Coastal Conservation League. Is your boss Dana Beach, or are you that very man? I am not a current resident of Chas, but I am a native, born and raised, and I'm tired of my hometown being held back by absolutely asinine, delusional NIMBYism that you perpetrate. You just don't like the fact that people like me finally have a voice in this issue...it used to be the P & C publishing regressive obstructionists' opinions only. How's that for truth?
Your view is hardly the majority, considering that it defies logic and rational thought. What I stated in my earlier post are facts and truth, and you just brush them off, not even attempting to debate them, because you logically are incapable. Wider roads ARE safer. Period. Simply demonizing the fact finders as "developers' best friends" doesn't negate the fact, though that is a common tactic with most liberals. You can't just ban cell phones or lower the speed limit and expect better results to magically appear. This is just utopian fantasy. The infrastructure needs to be upgraded, and once it is, I can almost guarantee that there will be less accidents and less deaths. I propose actual solutions, and you propose laws to create unrealistic expectations. Pretty pathetic.
February 13, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
I take that back, Palmetto. Your LAST post is exceptionally pathetic and completely false. Lies and distortions. You must be a registered Democrat/CCL party hack.
February 13, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
icbmman: Bohicket turns to 4 lanes at River Road and becomes Betsey Kerrison Parkway, which is NO safer than the rest of Bohicket. Every other car drives in the left lane regardless of their speed and others wanting to pass jockey dangerously in and out of cars to get ahead and arrive 10 seconds sooner. I've seen dozens of accidents on Betsey Kerrison in the last decade. As I said earlier, safe drivers make safe roads, not vice versa.
That said, some of you need to learn to argue your point without insulting and degrading others.
It makes you appear mentally uncapable of participating in a civilized debate, and THAT'S pathetic.
February 13, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
icmbman and palmetto man
why don't you two settle this the old fashion way "pistols at 20 paces".
Gentleman are you ready? 1,2,3,4,5,6, ......19, 20!
Boom -------->
<-----------KaaaBamm!
OK now that they have settled their differences and both lay bleeding in the road don't you think that there is some middle ground here?
I think there should be a John's Island 10 year master plan that limits growth, sets aside 1000s of acres of wetlands and forest, and provides for a continuous and connected wildlife sanctuary.
A plan that embraces the scenic beauty of the area but prevents the urban sprawl that we see in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, yet adds to the economic welfare of the entire area, and adds to road safety.
Perhaps a parkway of sorts with limited access with large buffers, in a new location with a planting of trees for the next 100 years. I'm pretty sure by 2108 we'll be wading in seawater anyways.
If you want street lights more to North Charleston, you want 4 lane highways head to Mt. Pleasant.
John's Island needs to be something better.
Speaking as someone who grew up having a Spinnaker Beach House as a summer home since the 1970's.
more on two lanes at:
http://cedarposts.blogspot.com/2008/0...
February 13, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Typical,
...a bunch of yankees move here because they "love it here", then they start movements designed to make "here" just like where they came from.
GO HOME!
February 13, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
rollo - Amen Brother!
February 14, 2008 at 5:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
PalmettoMan, you now have defined yourself as utterly stupid and pathetic. I've already told you where I come from, and you've ignored it. I've given a rational argument for widening roads that incorporates logic and thought, and you've done nothing to encourage actual debate. Maybe I need to emphasize this point about the widening:
***ENFORCE THE RURAL ZONING STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WIDENING.*** Enforce the zoning laws and you can prevent massive neighborhoods from being built.
You've randomly selected some of my posts that show my frustration with the idiocy constantly displayed in my hometown, berate me, then tell ME I have the attitude problem when you're the jerk running "Yankees" and natives (that is what I am, a native!!) out of this city because you want it to continue to be your redneck backwoods paradise. I do have an attitude problem with jerks like yourself, inhibiting my hometown from becoming bigger and better while other cities in the South and even in this state surpass it. You're a disgrace and a hack.
BTW, if you're going to quote me, you may want to use the correct article title. What you copied as my post from the Courtenay Street article is not what I posted. I posted that about the port expansion.
JohnQ, yes, that is an insult. Take it for what it is, but your views and Palmetto's rhetoric say it all. Lies and distortions shouldn't be something one should be proud of, but people like Palmetto defy logic pretty frequently, so what can you do? All you guys can do is spew regressive, half-a$$ ideas...the bulwark of most liberals and Democrats.
Motor, a master plan does need to be developed, but we need to understand that proper traffic management in a plan can only be done with adequate infrastructure. Johns Island has poor infrastructure, and any expert will see that. I guess we'll have to disagree about street lights. They are important for safety in a populated area.
Yeahright: I guess that's easier said than done when you're dealing with some people with a tremendous amount of backwards logic. My patience is done with people like Palmetto, and my insults pale in comparison to his lies and false accusations about my allegiances.
February 14, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
My God! The potshots taken (and returned) on this board dismay me. Can't we disagree without being disagreeable? I understand the concept of "misdirected rage," but this is ludicrous.
February 14, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
While PalmettoMan is saying untruthful claims about me and using my quotes against me, he manages to forget that I actually agreed with him in a post or two. :) Since he likes to post my quotes, here is an agreeing statement I made about the CCL proposal for Johns Island:
"Posted on January 4 at 4:30 p.m.
PalmettoMan, you hit the nail on the head. All of those interconnected roads will do nothing except provide accessibility to more developable land, and they still won't address the traffic that will be coming on and off the island, also completely ignoring the traffic build-ups West Ashley and on James Island.
On Engineers offer alternatives to I-526 extension"
Hmmmm...
February 14, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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