(COLUMBIA)  – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety began special enforcement in the Lowcountry today focusing on aggressive driving behaviors that are causing deadly collisions on state roadways.

This second round of enforcement will focus on Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties in the Lowcountry and will run from February 21 -23. Last year, 118 people died on Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley county roads.

The STOP campaign began earlier this month in the Upstate with a three-day wave of enforcement from January 31-February 2. The enforcement focus was on aggressive driving behaviors such as speed, changing lanes unlawfully, and following too closely.

Troopers from the Highway Patrol Target Zero Team, which is a statewide team focused specifically on fatality reduction, are working with local troopers and law enforcement to conduct periods of enforcement in areas around the state beginning in January and running through the end of the year. The enforcement is coupled with a strong emphasis on safety education and outreach through the media and social media.

Motorists from all over the state can expect to see similar enforcement in their area in the months to come. The next waves of enforcement will be in the Troop One/Midlands in March and the Troop Five/Grand Strand in April.

The roadways chosen are areas where statistics show a high incidence of fatalities, collisions, and reported aggressive driving behaviors. In the Lowcountry, some of those roadways include: I-26 in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; US 17 in Charleston County and College Park Road in Berkeley County.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, Immigration Enforcement Unit and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.