Letters: SC roads more dangerous than war? Not by a long shot

S.C. traffic engineer Tony Fallaw’s claim to the state Transportation Commission that “It would be safer for me to send my kids to war at the peak of conflict” than for them to drive on S.C. roads is false, assuming his kids drive safely (“SC’s roads more deadly than war,” Jan. 20).

Consider: Population of South Carolina: 4,625,000. Number of S.C. traffic deaths in 2016: 975. That’s one death per 4,743 people.

Number of Americans in Iraq at peak year (2007): 140,000. Deaths that year: 961. That’s one death per 146 people.

Statistically correct conclusion: War is 32.5 times more deadly than South Carolina’s roads.

While I agree that our roads could be made safer and potholes filled more quickly, most of those 975 deaths could have been prevented simply by drivers buckling up, motorcyclists wearing helmets, not speeding, not driving drunk, not texting or talking on the phone or indulging in other distractions, and obeying other traffic laws.

Then striking a tree on the side of the road would not be an issue.

This story was originally published February 5, 2017 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Letters: SC roads more dangerous than war? Not by a long shot."