The most dangerous highways in South Carolina

Driving on the highway in South Carolina always comes with some risks. However, certain roadways pose greater dangers than others. Parents should make sure that kids learning to drive have adequate preparation so that they may avoid a car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts out a report for each state concerning the most dangerous roadways and how many injuries and fatalities occur on each annually. Looking at the data from the last few years, it is easy to see a pattern and pinpoint the most dangerous highways in the state. Here are the areas to watch out for and be particularly vigilant in.

U.S. 17 Coastal Highway

U.S. 17 runs through South Carolina from Georgia to North Carolina. It threads through major cities in the state, including Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hardeeville. Between 2015 and 2017, 82 fatalities occurred along this stretch of road during the summers. One reason for this high rate is that it is popular among tourists. Myrtle Beach alone receives over 14 million tourists annually, so there are a lot of people driving who are unfamiliar with the highway. They may not know which exit to take, and it can spell disaster for everyone else.

I-26

I-26 is the next deadliest highway in South Carolina. Reports show that 51 fatalities occurred along this roadway during the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017. It runs from Charleston to Landrum, going through Columbia on the way. One major problem with this roadway is that there are very few guardrails or guard wires along the way. That means vehicles that end up colliding are more likely to go off the road and exacerbate any injuries.

S.C. 9

S.C. 9 starts in North Myrtle Beach and runs up against the border of North Carolina. The road has one bad intersection in particular that is prone to accidents. Officials have considered adjusting the intersection where S.C. 9 meets State Highway 410 to limit these collisions.