South Carolina has some of the most dangerous roads in the U.S., with high collision rates often linked to traffic volume, road design, and driver behavior. Based on the latest available data, this blog recaps the 10 roads with the highest number of collisions in 2021, as reported by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS).
While the total number of collisions can be a useful metric, accident rates, such as those calculated per mile or per vehicle miles traveled, offer a more statistically sound approach. However, this type of data is not readily available for specific roads. Accident rates, such as collisions per mile or per vehicle miles traveled (VMT), offer a more precise evaluation of road safety than total collision numbers. This is because accident rates standardize the data, considering both the road’s length and traffic volume. A road with a high number of collisions might simply be longer or have more traffic. Accident rates, however, allow for a comparison of the actual risk level of different roads, regardless of these factors.
Unfortunately, data for accident rates on individual roads is often unavailable. This is due to the challenge of collecting VMT data for every road, which requires substantial resources and effort. As a result, we’ll look at total collision numbers as the most readily accessible data – not the best data possible, but something interesting to look at nonetheless.
The following table lists the 10 most dangerous roads in South Carolina, ranked by total collisions in 2021. Note that some roads span multiple counties, and the highest collision count is used for ranking. The three roads in bold are local to us here in Columbia, SC:
Rank | Road | County | Total Collisions (2021) |
1 | US-17 | Horry | 2,181 |
2 | US-501 | Horry | 1,697 |
3 | US-25 | Greenville | 1,210 |
4 | I-85 | Greenville | 1,036 |
5 | US-276 | Greenville | 979 |
6 | US-29 | Greenville/Spartanburg | 976/924 |
7 | US-1 | Richland | 1,071 |
8 | US-76 | Richland | 1,052 |
9 | I-26 | Lexington | 1,027 |
10 | US-21 | York/Beaufort | 719/710 |
South Carolina ranks among the states with the deadliest roads in the U.S. According to a 2023 report by the Island Packet, the state has the second-highest fatality rate from car crashes, with 23.1 deaths per 100,000 individuals. This highlights the severity of the road safety issues present in the state.
The data analyzed here focuses on the 10 most dangerous roads in South Carolina, based on the total number of collisions in 2021. High collision rates on these roads can be attributed to several factors, including heavy traffic volume, road design, and driver behavior. Roads like US-17 in Horry County, for example, are noted for their winding paths, blind curves, and increased risk of collisions, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
Data Source and Methodology
The primary data source for this analysis is the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book 2021 Edition, published by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) (South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book 2021). This 194-page report provides detailed statistics on traffic collisions, including fatal, injury, and property damage-only (PDO) incidents, categorized by route type and county. The user requested criteria such as accident rates or number of accidents per year, with a preference for rate statistics due to their statistical reliability. However, the fact book does not provide accident rates (e.g., collisions per mile or per vehicle miles traveled, VMT) for individual roads, so this analysis relies on total collision numbers as a proxy for danger, which is a common approach when rate data is unavailable.
The methodology involved extracting the “Top 5 Roadways” for each county from the fact book, identifying roads with the highest total collisions, and ranking them to form a list of the top 10. Where roads span multiple counties (e.g., US-29, US-21), the highest collision count was used for ranking to avoid duplication, ensuring a comprehensive list.
Collision Statistics by Road Type: Are Interstates More Deadly?
In 2021, South Carolina recorded 147,724 total traffic collisions, with 1,198 fatalities, highlighting the severity of road safety issues. The fact book categorizes collisions by route type, providing insight into high-risk categories:
Route Category | Fatal Collisions | Injury Collisions | PDO Collisions | Total Collisions |
Interstate | 62/121* | 2,069 | 8,396 | 10,527/16,513* |
US Primary | 179/308* | 7,444 | 19,484 | 27,107/38,861* |
SC Primary | 155/292* | 5,981 | 16,466 | 22,602/33,295* |
Secondary | 167/337* | 7,197 | 21,377 | 28,741/43,179* |
County | 20/47* | 1,646 | 7,343 | 9,009/13,874* |
Ramp | 2/7* | 207 | 1,116 | 1,325/2,002* |
Total | 1,112 | – | – | 147,724 |
*Note: Two sets of data are provided for fatal and total collisions, likely from different sections of the report, and both are included for completeness. PDO stands for Property Damage Only.
Secondary routes had the highest number of fatal collisions (337, or 30.3% of total fatal collisions) and total collisions (43,179, or 29.2%), followed by US Primary and SC Primary routes, indicating these categories may include many dangerous roads.
Additional High-Collision Roads for Context
To provide a broader picture, several other roads with high collision numbers were noted in county data, such as:
These roads, while not in the top 10, highlight the widespread nature of road safety concerns across the state.
Factors Contributing to High Collision Rates
Several factors contribute to the high collision numbers on these roads, as noted in various reports:
Environmental Conditions: While less common, adverse weather and road surface conditions can exacerbate risks, though the fact book shows most collisions occur in clear, dry conditions.
The reliance on total collisions rather than accident rates (e.g., per VMT) is a limitation, as it does not account for road length or traffic volume, which can skew perceptions of danger. For instance, a short, busy road may have fewer collisions than a long, less-traveled one, yet be more dangerous per mile. Future research could benefit from integrating VMT data, potentially available through the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Traffic Analysis and Data Application (SCDOT Traffic Counts), to calculate rates. Additionally, more recent data beyond 2021 would provide a current picture, though the 2021 fact book is the most recent comprehensive report as of April 25, 2025.
Dear readers, driving in South Carolina can be a joy, especially when the weather’s clear. As your friends in the legal community here at Proffitt & Cox, we’d like to remind you that it’s precisely during this fine weather that the vast majority of accidents happen. With the sun shining and the roads clear, it can be tempting to reach for your phone or let your mind wander. But remember, staying focused on the road is the best way to ensure you arrive safely at your destination. So, put your phone down, keep your eyes up, and enjoy the beautiful weather and the pleasure of safe driving!
And, if you do find yourself in an accident, remember we’re here to help.
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