Making ‘Deadman’s Curve’ safer for drivers

A short stretch of S.C. 9 in Chester County didn’t get the nickname “Deadman’s Curve” for nothing. While no firm number has been established, law enforcement officers in the county can recall at least six fatalities on that curve.

The latest occurred on March 7 when a logging truck was struck head-on by a van that had crossed the dividing line into the opposing lane. Drivers of both vehicles died in the fiery crash.

The number of accidents and the horrific nature of the March 7 collision prompted the Chester County Council to vote unanimously Monday to ask the S.C. Department of Transportation to examine the two-lane curve and determine what can be done to make it safer. State officials will begin studying the curve immediately, according to the county.

Chester County officials have called the design of the roadway “treacherous.” But that isn’t immediately obvious to the casual observer.

The deadly stretch looks like a meandering curve with no trees or other vegetation blocking drivers’ vision. The speed limit, as on most rural state highways, is 55 mph.

Obviously something makes this curve unsafe. Too many deadly accidents have occurred there to attribute the carnage to coincidence.

We hope that state engineers and traffic experts can determine what the fatal flaw is and fix it.

Currently, the only warnings for drivers are yellow signs with curving black arrows on them to indicate a curve in the road is ahead. A sign is located on both ends of the curve to warn oncoming traffic.

That might not be enough warning. Perhaps the signs should explicitly state: “Dangerous curve ahead.” Maybe the speed limit should be reduced for the length of the curve.

We don’t have the answers. They are better determined by state transportation officials who are accustomed to reading roads, finding their design flaws and making them safer.

Even if the road and its signage are improved, human error plays a role in many accidents. There is no guarantee this curve can be made completely safe for drivers.

But we salute the county council for trying. Too many have died on this curve; too many families have mourned.

The least the county can do is ask for a careful inspection of the deadly road and hope that the state experts can come up with a solution.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Making ‘Deadman’s Curve’ safer for drivers."