Lexington County has more traffic deaths than any other county. Nearly half are the result of drunk driving.
The sheriff's office, with help from the highway patrol, is targeting new areas based on previous crashes and community complaints. They make the list available to the public, yet deputies are still pulling people over.
"43's about the average right now," said Sheriff's deputy Will Patterson, who was running radar behind Lexington High School Friday.
The posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour.
"They recognize who we are and, usually you can see the front of the car dip down and it's the brakes," said Deputy Brian Borough.
They're hoping it will leave a lasting impression on drivers to slow down in the county leading the way in traffic fatalities.
"People have to realize that speed kills, drinking kills, under the influence of alcohol or drugs as well as not wearing seat belts," said Sheriff James Metts.
The good news Friday: deputies didn't find anyone not buckled up.
"That's a major problem for the county," said Metts. "The majority of our incidents where people have been killed in the county, find out the people aren't buckled up, where in they possibly could have survived."
Sheriff Metts is working to bring in a special prosecutor to handle just DUI cases, making sure those charged don't walk away with a slap on the wrist.
He said the state needs to stiffen penalties for DUI. Budget constraints have left him with fewer deputies to carry out traffic enforcements. The numbers have fallen over the last four years from 14 to six, making it tough in a county where the problems are scattered.
"We have found that it's all over the place looking at deaths, looking at the locations," said Metts. "I mean it's all over the place."
Sheriff Metts said it's going to take drivers changing their habits, slowing down, and designating a driver to turn the county's fatality rate around.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department publishes a list of targeted enforcement areas on its web site every week.
A Lexington County Sheriff's Deputy checks speeds behind Lexington High School
