CHARLESTON, S.C. — A warm Valentine’s weekend is bringing more drivers onto South Carolina roadways, and in Charleston, that shift in temperature could quietly change how people move through the city.
After weeks of cooler mornings and lighter winter traffic, the first stretch of mild February weather often creates a subtle sense of ease. Roads feel open. Intersections seem manageable. Drivers accelerate sooner and leave less following distance without realizing it.
And this weekend, traffic increases.
Vehicles move steadily along I-26 and U.S. 17 as couples head toward dinner reservations downtown. Congestion tightens near King Street and the Historic District. Parking fills quickly around Market Street and the City Market area. Evening traffic builds near Waterfront Park and along East Bay Street as visitors take advantage of the comfortable air before nighttime plans.
Warmer temperatures also bring more pedestrians into busy crosswalks that have been quieter in recent weeks.
It’s not severe weather that creates risk during a weekend like this.
It’s comfort.
When pavement appears dry and predictable, reaction times can soften. Drivers assume visibility is clear. They assume braking will be smooth. They assume others are fully attentive.
Add Valentine’s anticipation — distractions, tighter schedules, unfamiliar parking — and the margin for error narrows.
The combination of warm weather and increased movement across Charleston roadways Saturday and Sunday evening can quietly elevate crash risk, even without hazardous conditions.
If you’re traveling anywhere in the city this weekend, especially after dark, stay alert.
Because sometimes the most dangerous driving conditions are the ones that feel completely normal.
