A recent study ranks the Palmetto State as that with the most dangerous highways.
The study conducted by CarInsuranceComparison.com combined data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, US Census Bureau, Federal Highway Administration, and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to award points in six categories, including percent of drivers not wearing seatbelts, highway traffic deaths, the amount of federal funding and the percent of bridges rated obsolete or deficient.
Following South Carolina in the lowest ranked states is Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The states ranked safest include Idaho, Tennessee, Arizona, Kentucky and Wyoming.
Each state was ranked on each criteria, with 1 being the best and 50 being the worst. The rankings were then added up to provide an overall score for each state.
South Carolina finished a full 37 points ahead of 2nd place Florida in total score.
Labor day marked the end of the "100 Deadly Days of Summer". From Memorial Day to Labor Day, 528 people died on South Carolina highways, compared to 558 highway deaths in this same time period in 2011.
Of the 353 motor vehicle occupants who died, 212 were not wearing seat belts.
Sixty-two pedestrians, 78 motorcyclists and 12 bicyclists died on state roads and highways.
According to Federal Highway Administration estimates, Americans have traveled an average of 234.9 billion vehicle miles per month in 2012.
