According to estimates by the World Health Organization, more than 1.19 million people are killed and more than 25 million are injured due to road traffic accidents every year. Millions are injured, and their lives are forever changed, but not as seriously as those who were left in the millions. Sadly most of these deaths are preventable. The purpose of traffic laws is quite obvious: to establish order, minimize risks and to save human lives on millions of mile-long roads that are used by millions of motorists daily.
Why Traffic Laws Exist
The basic premise of traffic laws is that of human safety. The streets first became clogged with cars early last century and accidents began to multiply. Governments had to make rules such as speed limits, right of way, signalling etc. to make roads predictable. Predictability saves lives. Where there is no common law, every intersection is a wager, and every highway is a dangerous place. Laws also account for an element of responsibility – when a driver violates the rules and causes an accident, there is a solid foundation for justice, and compensation.
Key Laws That Directly Save Lives
Some traffic laws have a more direct and measurable impact on survival than others:
- The chances of surviving a pedestrian being struck are about 90% when the speed is 20 mph. At 40 mph, that drops below 50%.
- According to CDC’s report on seat belt laws, the risk of death to a front passenger in a crash is 45% lower when the passenger is wearing a seatbelt.
- Drunk Driving Laws: Laws establish a limit of 0.08% BAC are in place because impairment starts much before the driver feels drunk.
- Distracted Driving Bans: With your eyes closed, you would cover the distance of a football field in 5 seconds at 55 mph.
- Right-of-Way Rules: Intersections and merges have clearly defined rules to avoid split-second confusion which can cause collisions.
All of the laws are specific to a known and known-to-be-preventable cause of road deaths. Neglecting any one increases risk — both for you and for those around you.
Laws Vary: Country to Country and State to State
There are no common regulations for traffic. One section of the German Highway is known as a “no speed limit” zone. In Japan, it is assumed that it is illegal to turn left on a red light. In the UK driving is on the left. These differences aren’t inconsequential, and may mean the difference between a safe journey and fatality for an inexperienced motorist.
It is significant that one should know the traffic law of the country he is travelling or living in before he starts driving in the country. An action that you may take on the road that you consider common sense may be not only illegal, but dangerous, somewhere else. International driving permits are partially for this reason – rules are different and drivers must adapt.
Details are largely in the hands of states in the U.S. There are differences in the laws in the following respects:
- No cell phone or texting during class time or at school events.
- Motorcycle helmet requirements
- Move Over laws for emergency vehicles are in effect.
- Young driver rules—Graded Licensing.
- Local law is not an option, it’s a necessity.
Greenville Traffic Laws and Road Safety
In Greenville, SC, the state traffic law is enforced by local regulations. In South Carolina, the fault-based system is in practice and the person responsible for the accident is liable for any damages incurred. The minimum liability insurance coverage is:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 per accident total
- $25,000 for property damage
South Carolina also has a comparative negligence doctrine. If you are at fault more than 51%, you will have nothing, so you should be doing the right thing and that is respecting traffic law or you will lose your rights.
Distracted driving, speeding in school zones and DUI patrols on high-risk corridors are all areas of focus for local enforcement in Greenville. The population in Greenville has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, with an increased flow of traffic, making road safety awareness more important than ever for both local and new residents. A Greenville Car Accident Lawyer can assist in resolving South Carolina insurance and fault issues when involved in a crash.
The Human Cost of Ignoring Traffic Laws
There’s no question about it, South Carolina ranks in the Top 10 worst states to drive in every year. Unfortunately, there were too many victims who died in traffic accidents throughout the State in 2022, with too many people driving too fast, too many people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and not enough people wearing their seatbelts. These are foretold results of the breakdown of laws intended to stop them.
Besides death, thousands of people are permanently disabled each year, no longer have work and live with lifelong trauma as a result of road collisions. Road crashes are a human, social and economic event that takes a toll of hundreds of billions of dollars annually in the United States of America on family life, insurance programs and healthcare systems. Safe driving is more important than just a personal decision. When left unchecked, it’s a social responsibility that has an impact on the financial bottom line.
Conclusion
Traffic legislation is not “red tape. They are a set of rules based on decades of research which keep people alive. The same rules apply on the Autobahn as they do on Greenville streets, and you must know the rules, obey them and realize that every choice you make is a decision that affects not only you, but others. So it’s only appropriate that the Road Safety campaign starts with awareness, then education and ends with law. Drive informed. Drive safe.