Our Island. Our Neighbors. Our Responsibility.

Life on Seabrook Island moves at its own pace – slower, friendlier, and closer to nature. With over 2,500 Property Owners, our roads are more than just pavement; they are shared pathways connecting neighbors, beaches, and island life. But they are also busy spaces where cars, low-speed vehicles (LSVs), bicycles, walkers, joggers, and even the occasional golf cart come together. As our island grows more active, it is important to remember that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Whether behind the wheel, on two feet, or pedaling on two wheels, sharing the road with care helps protect the people and peace that make island life so special.

Even though LSVs and bicycles are very different, they share many of the same responsibilities under South Carolina traffic laws and SIPOA rules. Both must:

• Obey all traffic signs, signals, and speed limits – stop at stop signs and yield when required.
• Ride/drive with the flow of traffic – always travel in the same direction as vehicles.
• Use hand or electronic signals to show when turning or stopping.
• Stay as far right as is safe on the roadway.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and shared areas.
• Use lights after dark: front white light and red-light reflector.
• Avoid distracted driving or riding; no phones, earbuds, or anything that limits awareness.
• Share the road courteously – give space, slow down when passing, and always drive defensively.

Remember: LSVs and Bikes both have a legal right to use the road and a shared duty to do so safely.

Over the course of our road sharing campaign, we saw promising signs that families are taking responsibility for safe LSV use. Many residents confirmed that they now understand and are adhering to the key legal requirements under South Carolina law. The objective of our campaign was to enhance safety awareness, increase enforcement of regulations, and collect data regarding the use of LSVs on the island. To do this, our security staff added additional patrol hours for the month. A total of 311 citations were issued, of which 97 were for LSV-related violations. The officers conducted stops, provided safety handouts, and increased visible enforcement presence. The results are as follows:

• Citations by Driver Type: Property Owners: 51%, Visitors: 22%, Renters: 27%
• Citations by Category: No pass displayed: 38%, Expired registrations 25%, Parking violations: 22%, Moving violations: 3%, Other, 12%.
• Observed LSV usage: Daily Average: 35 – 40; Peak usage: Friday through Sunday

Community concerns vs. findings: often, initial concerns were underage drivers and seat belt use. (Seat belt use is difficult to verify due to Type 1 Lap Belts often being obscured by clothing or bags.) Less than 10% of the stops revealed underage drivers or unrestrained occupants. Data shows violations were distributed across all user groups.

The campaign successfully met its objectives to improve safety, promote compliance, and gather valuable data for further planning. The recommendations are to continue seasonal campaigns, sustain heightened enforcement during peak summer months, and target education by providing clear information to Property Owners about actual trends. We will maintain structured records for ongoing comparisons year-to-year.

The Safety and Security Committee will continue to provide helpful information about our island. What are our Security forces responsible for? How do they differ from regular police officers? Find out the answers in next month’s issue of Currents.

Submitted by Maryanne Connelly, Safety & Security Committee Chair