Distracted Driving Leading to Increase in Wrecks on South Carolina Interstate

Authorities say distracted driving is to blame for a jump in wrecks involving stopped vehicles on Interstate 85 in South Carolina.

The Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs told the Greenville News that 408 accidents on I-85 have involved a stopped vehicle so far this year, compared to 314 at the same time last year.

Ten people have died in South Carolina so far this year in 1,794 accidents on I-85, compared to four deaths over the same period last year.

Cpl. William T. Rhyne is a spokesman for the state Highway Patrol who commutes daily on the interstate. He says the problem isn’t that vehicles are stopped but that other drivers are too distracted to see the congestion in time to avoid an accident.