ROAD RULES

Each day, millions of motorists are at risk of a wreck.
How can you avoid being one of them?

September 24, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

There’s the 30-minute commute to the office in the morning, a 15-minute drive to a restaurant in town for lunch, the 20-minute drive to the grocery store after work to pick up supper and another 30 minutes on the road to make it back home at the end of the day.
For most Americans, the highways are just a part of life, as millions of drivers spend more and more time in their vehicles each day, making their way from place to place.
But when drivers fail to follow the rules of the road, the highways can become a dangerous place for themselves, their passengers and the motorists around them.
According to the most recent statistics on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site, nearly 6.2 million collisions were reported to police in 2004, with more than 2.7 million people injured in those collisions.
Law enforcement officials and driving instructors said lack of attention is one of the most common mistakes made by drivers that can lead to wrecks.
“The number one cause of wrecks is driver error and not focusing on the road,” said Jimmy Reed, an instructor with Lakelands Driving Academy and a driver education teacher at Abbeville High School. “People try to multitask while they drive — everything from putting on makeup to eating in the car.”

Keeping focus

When a driver is focused on something inside their vehicle, such as a radio, air controls, cell phones or passengers, too little attention is given to what is happening outside of the car.
“All it takes is a blink of an eye, and you’ve run off the road,” said Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth, with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. “You need to have all those things adjusted before you pull out of the driveway.”
Keeping your mind on the road is an important part of driving defensively to avoid collisions, said Bettye McGovern, a defensive driving course instructor at Piedmont Tech.
“Cell phones are a big problem with driving right now,” McGovern said. “If drivers have them, they need to have them mounted so that their hands are free, or they really need to pull over to carry on a conversation. If someone were calling you with startling news, it could disrupt your driving or it could emotionally distress you.”
The most common driving errors, McGovern said, are speeding, right-of-way violations, improper turning, driving left-of-center, improper passing and following too closely.
High speeds can affect how quickly a vehicle can come to a stop, McGovern said, adding that speeding, when combined with following too closely, can result in rear-end collisions.
“And rear-end collisions are basically always your fault,” she added.
Edgeworth said that other factors, such as weather and lighting, road conditions, impaired drivers and driver fatigue can also play roles in contributing to motor vehicle accidents.
“Sometimes people that are tired or on medication can have the same features as a drunk driver,” Edgeworth said.
McGovern said drivers who are yawning or sleepy should pull over to take a nap, take a walk or splash water on their face to wake themselves up.
Reed said those risk factors are multiplied for teenage drivers, adding that one in four teen drivers will have a wreck in their first year on the road.
“It’s a combination of inexperience, taking chances and being less cautious,” Reed said.

Danger spots

Edgeworth said South Carolina troopers see a majority of collisions on secondary highways and roads, rather than large interstates, adding that most of the collisions are one-vehicle wrecks. The most dangerous time of day for drivers, he added, is between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends.
“You are 80 percent more likely to be involved in some type of alcohol-related collision” during those hours, Edgeworth said.
McGovern said that two out of every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives, adding that the statistic shows how important it is for people to designate a driver or take the keys from someone who is impaired.
“At any time in the United States, one driver out of every 50 on the road is not just impaired, but illegally intoxicated,” she said. “On weekend nights, that number is closer to one out of 10.”
Rush-hour, seasonal or holiday traffic, can also be a dangerous time for drivers, as people have to adjust to more vehicles sharing the roads.
“More people are going to be out there and wanting to be in a hurry, and they aren’t being the safest drivers they can be,” Edgeworth said.

Protecting yourself

The defensive driving course at Piedmont Tech, an eight-hour class sponsored by the National Safety Council, teaches drivers to anticipate what the other motorists on roadways might do and how to react in those situations, McGovern said.
“Whenever you are driving, at some point you should ask yourself what you would do if another car loses control and comes toward you,” she said. “You have to start thinking in terms of somebody doing something wrong.”
Intersections can prove to be extremely hazardous, McGovern said, adding that the “delayed acceleration” rule can give drivers extra protection against people who disregard red lights or stop signs. Under the rule, drivers should scan the area, looking to the left, straight ahead, to the right and to the left once again before pulling into an intersection.
“This scanning technique will delay acceleration by two seconds and help make sure the intersection is clear before you move ahead,” McGovern said.
Monitoring mirrors and constantly scanning the road ahead for aggressive drivers can give motorists time to react to other potential dangers, officials said. Recognizing hazardous conditions, slowing down to a safe speed and increasing following distance, McGovern said, are the three steps in the collision prevention formula.
If a vehicle is approaching in the wrong lane, a driver should immediately slow down and ease off the right side of the road to avoid a head-on collision. Though the maneuver could send the driver into the path of objects on the side of the road, the collision would likely be less severe than a head-on collision with another vehicle.
“Your chances of surviving are better on the shoulder than having a head-on collision. If you have to hit something, hit something soft, like a bush or shrubbery,” McGovern said. “If you have to hit a fixed object, try to hit it with a glancing blow. ... Turn your wheels so you’d be sliding into the object.”
If a motorist has traveled off the side of the roadway accidentally, officials said it is important not to “jerk” the vehicle back onto the roadway, which can cause the driver to lose control. The vehicle could travel back across the road and into a ditch or tree, or even into oncoming traffic.
“Practice the ‘Off-Off Rule,’” Edgeworth said. “Keep your foot off the brake and off the accelerator. Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep control so you can move smoothly and gradually back onto the roadway.”
But even the best defensive drivers can be involved in traffic collisions, and officials said taking precautionary measures, such as buckling up in a seat belt, can be the difference between life and death in a wreck.
Seat-belt usage can prevent ejection from a vehicle during a crash, shift crash forces to stronger parts of the body, spread the forces over a wider area of the body and allow the body to slow down gradually, Edgeworth said. The devices can also protect the head and spinal cord from injury.
“The seat belt is the number one safety device in a vehicle. You are four times more likely to die in a collision if you are ejected from a vehicle,” Edgeworth said. “Even if you are not ejected, you can become a projectile object inside of the car. If the car is going 50 mph, when you hit something inside the car, you hit it at 50 mph.”
Edgeworth said if drivers are taking the right safety measures, buckling up and obeying the laws, they can reduce their chances of becoming involved in traffic wrecks. “You need to drive like your life depends on it,” Edgeworth said. “The collisions people are involved in are going to affect someone’s life.”

Opinion

School bonds information came from factual sources

September 24, 2006

Recent actions by the Greenwood School District 50 Board of Trustees on its proposed multi-million-dollar bond initiative, whether in public or behind closed doors, have stirred debate within the community. Considering the public debt that would be created - maybe as much as $150 million, or more - and the pay-off time - maybe as long as 30 years - controversy was inevitable. Many taxpayers have complained that the way the Board has handled the matter made controversy a sure thing.
In recent weeks, this newspaper has published editorials and news articles on circumstances surrounding the debate. There have been efforts by some Board members - not all - and other District 50 officials to discredit those editorials and news articles. They have publicly called them misleading and untrue. They have claimed the editorials and articles have even spread misinformation in an effort to “hurt school children.”

THAT CONTENTION, ON ITS face, is absurd and misleading, not to mention spiteful. As far as the information used in editorials and news articles, all of it has come from what are considered official sources.
It has come directly from:
-Face to face talks with school officials.
-Printed Board reports on the minutes of Board meetings.
-Published on-line public reports of Board meetings.
-Telephone conversations with school officials.
-Public meetings of the Board.
-Written answers to questions submitted in writing to District 50.
If these real sources cannot be believed, why is this a controversy, anyway?
There is indeed misinformation being floated around the school district and, in fact, the entire community. However, it has not come from this newspaper.

Obituaries

Elizabeth Connelly

SILVERSTREET — Elizabeth “Betty” Martin Connelly, 79, formerly of 844 Belmont Church Road, Silverstreet, died Saturday, September 23, 2006, at Self Memorial Medical Center in Greenwood.
Mrs. Connelly was born on May 8, 1927 in Newberry County, a daughter of the late Frank W. and Ida Longshore Martin. She was twice married, first to the late Griffin O. “Griff” Dorroh, Sr. and second to the late James S. “Jim” Connelly. She was a retired sales clerk, having worked for Jim’s Jewelers and Turners Jewelers. She was a member of Smyrna Presbyterian Church, the Adult Sunday School Class, the Ester Circle and was a Lunch Pal at Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara D. & Tim Burke of Mt. Pleasant; two sons and daughters-in-law, G. Olin and Kathy Dorroh, Jr. of Greenwood and David M. and Annie Laura Dorroh of Newberry; two sisters, Patricia M. Cammeron of Saluda and Ruth M. Ausband of Myrtle Beach; four grandchildren, Maggie Dorroh, Marty Dorroh, Griff Dorroh and Dena Byrd: and a great grandson, Noah Dorroh. She was predeceased by two sisters, Emily M. Corley and Etta M. Benson and four brothers, Francis Martin, Marion Martin, Sherod Martin and James Martin.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 Monday at Smyrna Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 6:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home. The family will be at her residence, 844 Belmont Church, Rd., Silverstreet.
The family requests that you honor her memory by making memorials to Smyrna Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 32 Smyrna Road, Newberry, SC 29108.
Messages to the family may be sent via email to notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, 1704 College St., Newberry is assisting the family.

Robert Davis

WARE SHOALS — Robert Avant “Robbie” Davis, 43, resident of 44 Dairy Street, husband of Wanda Ann Jenkins Davis, died September 22, 2006.
Born in Greenwood, February 13, 1963, he was the son of Robert “Sammy” and Dotsy Madden Davis. He was a graduate of Ware Shoals High School, attended Piedmont Technical College, and was employed by the Mundy Companies.
Mr. Davis was a member of Hodges Church of God.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home and parents of Ware Shoals are a daughter, Cassie L. Davis and a son, Connor Davis, both of Greenwood; four step-daughters, Missi Rearden of Ninety Six, Shelby Scott, Whitni Jones and Josie Jones, all of Hodges; a sister, Jeannie Powell of Waterloo and a brother, Don Davis of Ware Shoals.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 PM Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charles Caldwell officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be David Daniel, Michael Clarke, Brad Cathcart, Pete Humbert, Gary Davis and Russell Davis.
The family is at the home of his parents, 322 Smith Street Ext, and will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 PM Sunday evening.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Davis family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Nicholas Evans

CALHOUN FALLS — Nicholas Roland Evans, age 26, died Saturday, September 23, 2006 following a motor vehicle accident.
Nicholas is the son of Shelda Harman Evans and the late Danny C. Evans. He is a graduate of Calhoun Falls High School, Class of ’99 and worked at Merl’s Countertops in Abbeville.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his brother Daniel Crayton “Cray” Evans and his wife Jill of Abbeville; niece Josie Beth Evans; Grandmother Doris J. Harman; Uncle Jan Harman and his wife Rhonda; Aunt Deannie McCord and her husband Walter; and girlfriend Amanda Elliot.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, September 25, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Abbeville. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home and may be contacted at the residence.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

James W. Justice

ABBEVILLE — James W. “Jim” Justice, 63, resident of 200 Florence St. husband of Carol Justice died Saturday Sept. 23, 2003 at Abbeville Area Medical Center.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 PM Sunday evening. The family is at the home of his daughter Mrs. Jana Davis, Secession St. Abbeville, SC.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday Sept. 25, 2006 at 11:00 AM from the Abbeville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Reiny Koschel officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery, Abbeville, SC.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth V. Lothridge

HICKORY TAVERN — Elizabeth Marie Vaughn Lothridge, 74, wife of Bobby Gene Lothridge of 2005 Neely Ferry Road died Friday, September 22 , 2006 at her home. She was born in Simpsonville, SC, a daughter of the late Willie Brite and Carrie Lawson Vaughn. She was a member of Sharon Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving are: husband of the home, one son, Ronnie Lothridge, Waterloo, one daughter, Donna L. Pitts and her husband Donnie of Hickory Tavern, one brother, Lewis Vaughn, Virginia, two sisters, Louise V. Lancaster, Simpsonville and Lavone V. Hendrix, Spartanburg, and grandchildren, Melissa Henderson and husband Alex, Adam Pitts and wife, Erin, Brannon Lothridge and wife, Jeana, Brett Lothridge and wife, Victoria and great-grandchildren, Lucas Henderson, Sara Beth Henderson and Grayson Lothridge.
She was pre-deceased by her parents and step-mother; Ruby M. Vaughn, brother; Willie L. “Billy” Vaughn and two sisters; Era V. Bonds and Mattie Lou V. Lancaster.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 AM Monday, at Sharon Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Robert Bowling, Rev. Chris Stancil and Rev. Al Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Nephews will serve as active pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Laurens Co. or to Building Fund, Sharon Pentecostal Holiness Church.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Sunday, 7-9 at Parker-White Funeral Home.

Annie Shealy

SALUDA — Annie LaNive Edwards Shealy, 95, died Friday, September 22, 2006, at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Saluda County and a daughter of the late Ernest Edwin and Regina Graddick Edwards, she was the wife of the late Harvey Baxter Shealy. Mrs. Shealy was a former textile employee and a member of Red Bank Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Joe Shealy of Georgiana, AL and Jim Shealy of Douglas, GA; two daughters, Billie McCullough of Greenwood and Jeri Kanellos of Hendersonville, NC; twelve grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Mrs. Shealy was preceded in death by a son, Harvey Ed Shealy.
Funeral services will be 3:00 PM Sunday, September 24, 2006, at Red Bank Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Romines officiating. Interment will follow in West Travis Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 until 3 PM Sunday at the church prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Saluda Nursing Center, P.O. Box 398, Saluda, SC 29138.
Ramey Funeral Home is in charge.

Mattie Traynham

WARE SHOALS — Mattie Duckworth Traynham, 95, of 1 Grove St., widow of Otis Traynham died September 22, 2006 at Martha Franks Retirement Center. She was born in Anderson County, a daughter of the late Thomas and Olivia Williams Duckworth. She was a member of First Baptist Church, th
e Dorcas Sunday School Class and the Boyd Bobo Chapter #144 of the Order of the Eastern Star. Surviving: one daughter, Olivia T. Medlin and husband Bennett, Ware Shoals, one sister, Ethel D. Haynes and husband John, Ware Shoals; one brother, Clyde Duckworth and wife DeLaine, Columbia, S.C., five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be conducted Sunday, 4 PM at First Baptist Church with Rev. Leon Jones and Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Brandon Medlin, Tommy Traynham, Scotty Carroll, Bryan Padgett, Randy Ashmore, Matt Medlin, Josh Medlin and Scot Carroll.
Honorary Escort will be members of the Dorcas Sunday School Class and The Order of The Eastern Star.
The family is at 11889 Indian Mound Road and will receive friends Sunday 3-4 PM at The First Baptist Church.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Marie Wells

Marie Clamp Wells, 81, of 310 Sample Road, died Saturday, September 23, 2006, at Hospice House of the Piedmont.
The family is at the home.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.