Columbia, SC (WLTX) - So far this year, Richland County is tops in the state for the number of roadway fatalities.
Troopers say in the first six weeks of the year, eight people have died in traffic accidents, which is up 20 percent from this time last year.
And one alarming number for troopers--only one of the crash victims was wearing a seat belt.
"We're looking to decrease those numbers by enforcement efforts that we're doing," says Captain Brad Hughes with the Highway Patrol. "We're conducting DUI saturation, speed enforcement, and working with our local agencies in Richland County...conducting seat belt enforcements."
Out of the eight deaths in Richland County, only one of them was alcohol-related.