Safety
Figures released by NHTSA in 2022 show South Carolina's bicycle and pedestrian death rates were again among the worst in the nation for 2020 (the latest year for which data is available).
In response to the rising number of pedestrian and bicycle deaths and serious injuries in SC, SCDOT developed the state's first Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan (PBSAP) The plan, published in 2022, was developed in coordination and consultation with a diverse stakeholder team comprised of members from state and local agencies, colleges and universities, and advocacy groups.
Pedestrians
In 2020, South Carolina was second in the nation for the number of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 population. With 187 deaths, pedestrians comprised nearly 18% of the total traffic fatalities in the state that year. Across the United States, pedestrian deaths have been on the rise, increasing 4% from 2019 to 2020. The national pedestrian fatality rate was 1.98 in 2020 Traffic Safety Facts
Bicyclists
The year 2020 recorded 14 bicyclist fatalities in South Carolina motor vehicle traffic collisions Traffic Safety Facts, 12 fewer deaths than in 2019. South Carolina's bicyclist fatality rate declined from 0.50 in 2019 to 0.27 in 2020. SC's 2020 rate was slightly less than the national rate of 0.28.