A lot of people think the drivers in their state are some of the worst around — it’s probably crossed all our minds at one time or another, especially when we get cut off in traffic or narrowly avoid an accident. But for some states, that’s actually true, and unfortunately South Carolina is one of them.
According to a recent study, South Carolina tied with Montana for the third-highest death rate from traffic accidents. South Carolina also ranked second for fatalities from reckless driving and speeding, and ranked first in bicycle accident deaths. Statistically speaking, that makes South Carolina one of the most dangerous states in the country, with the most deaths per 100 million vehicle miles.
If you’re traveling within or vacationing in South Carolina this year, it might be worth making sure you’re protected and aware of the state’s less than stellar driving record.
South Carolina Accident Statistics and Causes
The breakdown of vehicle accident statistics in South Carolina are downright sobering. The number of fatalities from traffic accidents averages out to about three per day. Of those fatalities, only half were wearing their seatbelts. According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book:
- There is one traffic collision every 3 minutes in South Carolina, and one traffic fatality every nine hours.
- One person is killed in a DUI-related collision every 27 hours.
- One pedestrian is killed every 1.9 days.
- One teen driver is involved in a fatal or injury collision every 1.6 hours.
- 1,064 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2020.
So what are the causes of these injuries and fatalities? For the most part, they’re the same as anywhere else in the country:
- Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone while driving
- Exceeding the speed limit or reckless driving
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Driving during poor weather conditions such as rain or snow
- Teenage driving (teenagers are the most risky demographic when it comes to car accidents)
There are also a few factors that are particular to South Carolina. For one, there are many rural highways, which can be notoriously dangerous as low traffic and monotonous driving can make drivers careless. South Carolina also has issues with seatbelt use (as mentioned above). In addition, South Carolina tends to take a more “hands-off approach” to traffic enforcement, preferring to encourage safe driving rather than increasing the severity of traffic enforcement. The state also has no law requiring motorcycle helmets for riders over the age of 21.
How This Affects Your Insurance Rates
Under the best of circumstances, you need to have car insurance, but it’s especially important when you’re driving in one of the riskiest states in the country. If you don’t have liability coverage, being in an accident where you’re at fault could lead to massive medical and legal debt, and could easily cause bankruptcy.
A more dangerous driving environment brings insurance rates up for everyone. Insurers assign premiums according to risk factors, and having a high number of traffic accidents (and thus insurance claims) means bigger payouts for insurers, which is passed along to drivers in the form of higher premiums.
As it stands now, South Carolina drivers only pay slightly higher premiums than the national average ($43 more yearly according to Kristine Lee at The Zebra). The current legal minimums for auto insurance in South Carolina are:
- Bodily injury: $25,000 per person
- Bodily injury: $50,000 per accident
- Property damage: $25,000 per accident
Liability insurance is always required. Insurance such as collision, comprehensive, gap coverage, etc. are all optional.
But being involved in an accident, or even getting cited for certain traffic violations, will lead to big increases in your insurance premiums. For example, being cited for reckless driving will drive your premiums up by 42%. Being in an at-fault accident can raise your premiums by another 42%. Leaving the scene of a hit-and-run? 72% increase in premiums. That means about $647 a year more in premiums.
Granted, if you end up in an accident, there are some companies that specialize in cheap South Carolina car insurance for drivers with an accident record — or, at least, are friendlier than others when it comes to premiums.
For example, the average yearly premium for drivers in South Carolina is $1,572 (once again, according to The Zebra). For drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, that’s going to be higher — but if you go with Traveler’s for your insurance, you may end up paying about $1,805 a year. If you have a policy with State Farm, your premiums could be about $2,106. If you’re an Allstate customer, your premiums might be more in the range of $3,200 — an unfortunate reality of being in an at-fault accident. This is one reason why it’s important to shop around and compare car insurance quotes — while you can’t avoid the premium increase, you can at least minimize the damage.
