County Seeking to Identify Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians, Cyclists

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Between 2017-2021, there were 220 fatal crashes in Anderson County and the fatality rate per 100,000 population was 21.7 percent. Of the 220 fatalities from 2017-2021, 41 were pedestrians

In 2020, Anderson County’s 2020 pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population was 5.89, the highest in South Carolina and markedly higher than the state’s rate of 3.65. The number of pedestrian fatalities highlights the need for sidewalks, biking trails and/or lanes, safer routes to school, and ADA accessibility in Anderson County. 

The county’s goal is to engage the community, and working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, develop a plan that results in zero pedestrian deaths by 2045.

A series of “Comprehensive Safety Action Plan” are being scheduled to identify potentially dangerous intersections of pedestrian and bicycle traffic and other areas which deserve attention, particularly in underserved neighborhoods.

Walking/bicycling is still a primary source of transit for many to get to work, and the county’s $200,000 “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant, is set to identify 10 sites that need work and to develop plans to improve safety in those areas. These areas would be eligible for additional funding for improvements.

For those who can’t make one of the informational meetings, the survey is online here.

A map to help identify potentially hazardous areas is here.

For more information visit here.