Country roads make up a significant portion of the national highway system, yet they are the site of a disproportionate number of fatal accidents each year. While there are fewer vehicles on country roads compared to urban and suburban roads, the fatality rate per mile driven is over 3 times higher in rural areas. This article will explore the unique risks and challenges of country roads that contribute to the high number of deadly crashes that occur in these areas.
Unique Risks of Country Roads
There are several inherent risks of driving on country roads that differentiate them from other types of roads:
High Speeds
Country roads often have much higher speed limits than urban streets, typically 45-55 mph compared to 25-35 mph. While higher speeds allow drivers to reach their destinations faster, they also dramatically increase the risks. At 55 mph, a crash is twice as likely to be fatal compared to one at 45 mph. Higher speeds reduce reaction times and increase the force of impact.
Minimal Lighting
Because country roads are located in less populated areas, they often lack street lighting that is ubiquitous in urban environments. This makes nighttime driving much more hazardous, as visibility is significantly reduced. Drivers may not see animals, debris, stopped vehicles, or pedestrians in time to avoid a collision after dark.
More Wildlife
Deer, bears, cows, and other wildlife are frequently encountered when driving down country roads, especially at night. Collisions with larger animals can damage vehicles and cause motorists to lose control. Estimates believe over 200 people are killed in animal-related crashes each year.
Narrower Lanes
Country roads generally have narrower lanes than highways and urban arterials. With less room for error, there is an increased chance that drivers will drift out of their lane or make unsafe passing maneuvers, resulting in head-on collisions.
Minimal Guardrails
Long stretches of country roads lack guardrails that help prevent run-off-the-road accidents. If vehicles leave the road, they are at higher risk of collision with roadside objects like trees and poles, as well as tumbles.
Infrequent Passing Zones
Because country roads are narrow, opportunities to legally pass slow-moving vehicles are limited. Drivers may make risky attempts to pass in unsafe no-passing zones, leading to deadly head-on crashes.
Poor Maintenance
Rural municipalities often lack the funding and resources to adequately maintain country roads year-round. Deteriorating road surfaces, debris, and potholes present hazards to drivers.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Country roads are more exposed to extreme weather like snow, ice, fog, and flooding which reduce visibility and traction for drivers. These roadway hazards are encountered more on rural roads as they are not treated in the same way as national highways.
Driver Behavior Factors
In addition to hazardous road conditions, data shows that driver behaviors also play a significant role in country road accidents:
Speeding
Excessive speed is a major contributor in all types of fatal crashes, and country roads provide the opportunity for drivers to reach extremely unsafe speeds. Speed limits are violated more frequently in rural areas.
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving accounts for around one-third of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. These incidents occur at higher rates on country roads, where enforcement is less frequent. Remote areas provide more opportunity for intoxicated drivers to avoid detection.
Distracted Driving
Similar to impaired driving, distracted driving is prevalent on roads with little traffic congestion that allow drivers to direct their attention away from the road. Texting while driving increases accident risk by 23 times according to research completed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Drowsy Driving
The monotony of long, dark country roads can lead to drowsy or fatigued driving. Data shows that drowsy driving causes thousands of deaths annually across the U.S.
Lack of Seat Belt Use
For reasons that are not fully understood, seat belt use is lower in rural areas. Unbelted occupants are much more likely to be killed in the event of a crash, and much more likely to sustain serious injuries if they survive.
Aggressive Driving
The openness of country roads can promote competitive, aggressive driving behaviors like speeding, tailgating, unsafe passing, road rage, and racing. These actions endanger everyone on the road.
Teen Drivers
Crash rates are disproportionately high for newly licensed teenage drivers everywhere, but lack of experience is particularly dangerous on hazardous country roads. Many fatal teen accidents occur in rural areas.
Making Country Roads Safer
While country roads present unique risks, there are strategies that can improve safety:
Targeted Enforcement
Increasing police enforcement and DUI checkpoints on country roads can act as a deterrent to speeding, impaired driving, and other hazardous behaviors.
Roadway Engineering Improvements
Widening lanes, adding rumble strips, installing lighting and guardrails, and creating more passing zones all help mitigate inherent road risks.
Public Education Campaigns
Educating rural drivers on the dangers of speeding, impairment, distraction, and drowsy driving can help promote safer driving habits and decisions. Outreach should also promote seat belt use.
Expanded Public Transit
Greater access to buses, light rail, and ride-sharing in rural areas provides transportation options that reduce impaired driving incidents.
Telemedicine Expansion
Increasing access to telemedicine can reduce late-night drives of rural patients to distant hospitals for non-urgent conditions.
Enhanced Emergency Response
Because emergency response times are longer in rural areas, improving trauma care access and helicopter transport to urban hospitals could save more lives.
While country roads make deadly crashes more likely due to their design and location, steps can be taken to enhance safety by addressing driver behavior through enforcement and education, while also engineering solutions. But more work is still needed to continue reducing the disproportionate fatality rate so that rural roads are as safe as other types of roads.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, contact our firm today to explore your legal options for obtaining compensation.
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