Follow These Simple Tips and Help us Improve Traffic Safety in Chester County!

  • Be a responsible driver! Wear your seat belt at all times (even when only driving a short distance) and ensure that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt and that all children are properly restrained and in an age appropriate car seat (See the link below to determine which seat is best for your child).

  • Know the current speed limit. Assess current driving conditions and adjust your speed to those conditions when necessary. Under certain conditions, the posted speed may be too fast.

  • Drive in the appropriate lane and allow enough distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Don’t worry about the behavior of other drivers; concentrate on driving safely.

  • If you are drinking, DO NOT DRIVE! Use a designated driver or call a taxi cab.

  • Make adjustments to controls (i.e. radio, air conditioning, mirrors, etc.) before beginning to drive or after the car is no longer in motion.

  • If you must use a cell phone, use a hands free model with memory dialing and do not text or play games on the phone while driving.

  • If you start to show sings of fatigue, get off of the road. Avoid driving between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

  • Prepare for the unexpected. Have a properly inflated spare tire, a cell phone, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, an auto service card, fire extinguisher, water and blanket.

Click Here For More Information Regarding South Carolina's Child Passenger Restraint Laws

Did you know that in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that about 80 percent of all child restraint devices used are placed in the vehicle improperly. In recent child safety clinics in South Carolina, safety seat technicians found about 98 percent of the seats they checked were improperly installed in some way.

Even if you follow the instructions closely, it is sometimes difficult to get your child safety seat installed just right to protect your child in a crash. To help parents and caregivers, South Carolina has child safety seat fitting stations in areas around the state. These stations provide assistance to parents by certified safety seat technicians when their schedule permits, either through appointments and/or special days of the month, etc. This is a service to assist parents in protecting their children. No citations will be issued at these checks.

Click here for Contact Information for SC Child Seat Fitting Stations
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)
Buckle Up South Carolina - Belt Laws
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

Many victims of identity theft have their information stolen in circumstances beyond their control. But in a significant number of cases, the thief obtained the information from the victim as a result of unknowingly sharing information with an imposter or unsafe handling of financial documents.

The following “do’s” and “don’ts” will help to reduce your chances of becoming a victim:
• At home, keep your personal information safe. Don’t leave information from financial accounts, Social Security or driver’s license numbers out where they may be seen by visitors to your home.
• Be careful at the office as well. It’s a bad idea to leave your personal bills or statements on your desk. Also, don’t leave your purse or wallet unattended – lock them in a drawer.
• One of the best ways to protect yourself is to shred financial items before you throw them away – especially credit cards, bank and credit union statements, “junk” credit card offers and cash advance convenience checks from your established credit cards.
• Check your bank and credit card account activity as soon as you receive your monthly statement. If you can go online to check activity and balances more frequently, you’ll be able to spot suspicious transactions quickly.
• Be suspicious of telephone calls or emails asking you to “verify” account information, passwords or your Social Security number. Don’t give out any numbers – if the call is legitimate they won’t have any problem putting their request in writing.
• Cut down on the number of items you carry in your purse or wallet – many muggings occur primarily to steal your identity. Don’t carry all your credit cards, just one or two. And don’t keep your Social Security card in your wallet; that’s the number one item thieves use to steal your identity.
• Also, be careful when you carry other cards that include your Social Security number. Medical insurance, dental insurance and school ID cards often use your Social Security number. Consider leaving these at home if you don’t absolutely need them with you.
• When you pay bills, don’t leave them in an unlocked mailbox. Thieves often drive through suburban neighborhoods after everyone has gone to work. They quickly grab mail from boxes with the red flag up.

There’s no way to guarantee that you’ll never be a victim of identity theft. But following each of these tips may help to
keep your information out of a criminal’s hands.