Прокурор Ричлендского округа призывает жителей Южной Каролины указывать контакты экстренной помощи на водительских правах

Richland County coroner urges residents to add emergency contacts to driver’s license COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) -The Richland County Coroner’s Office is urging residents to add emergency contacts to their driver’s license, saying the step can speed up the next-of-kin notification process. Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said too many people are unaware the feature exists. She said the process takes only a few seconds and can save families valuable time during an emergency. “If you put in your emergency contact, we can find your family that much faster,” Rutherford said. Residents can add up to two emergency contacts to a driver’s license, permit, or ID card at no cost through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website. The information is stored in the DMV’s database and can only be accessed by police or the coroner’s office. Rutherford said outdated addresses on driver’s licenses often slow down the notification process. “It is heartbreaking for me to tell someone that their loved one died at 9 a.m. that morning on their way to work and they’ve been calling them all day, but we couldn’t find them,” Rutherford said. “People don’t realize when you move and you don’t update your DMV address, that when you don’t actually change your license, we go to the address on your license.” Rutherford said she plans to bring an awareness campaign to state lawmakers during the next legislative session in an effort to get the practice mandated. In the meantime, she is urging residents to make the addition as soon as possible. Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here. Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.