A speeding truck cutting the curve

Everybody who traveled just once the old SR-20 in Burton knows this curve, 15 mile warning signs, bright yellow overhead caution lights, a few barrier planks ahead, a sharp flat ungraded 90º turn, a driving experience like nowhere else in Beaufort County.

The curve in its center radius additionally intersects with Rice Road, a leftover stretch of dirt road, ready to be challenged by young neighborhood car racers. Accidents? The increased traffic at this corner caused by past road construction on Hwy. 170 and added housing in the neighborhood calls for changes for the safety of drivers, residents and school children.

Speedster passing the double center line and using the opposite lane!

A recent accident happened just seven days after the Highway department replaced the yellow overhead lights. Since than there were two accidents with motor bikes. Local bike clubs seem to use this curve for hazing during the introduction of new club members. The bright light on the pole next to the curve, destroyed during strong winds of a hurricane, was never replaced after the pole came down. Most recently two cars nearly hit the wall but were stopped by the ditch in front of the wall.

	Wall and sign destroyed by speeding

A stretch of wall (see picture at right), with company sign and light was destroyed for the third time. Landscaping and wall repair bills have to be paid out of pocket since insurance companies are unwilling to compensate the property owner after so many accidents and since drivers leave the scene in the dark of the night.

Beside making the recommended speed of 15Mph mandatory and enforceable, down from the present 45Mph, it is our opinion that only additional light at night and rumble strips like on some highway entries will make the curve safer for residents and drivers alike. (see also "a letter to the SCDOT from July 30, 2004")