Fatal car accidents are fairly common on rural roads. For example, according to one study, roughly 43% of all fatal crashes take place in these rural settings.
From the outside, though, this may make it appear that rural roads are safer. Aren’t 57% of fatal crashes in the city?
The thing to remember is that the vast majority of people in the country live in urban areas, not rural areas. There are far fewer vehicles on these rural roads, so even 43% of all fatal accidents is disproportionately high. This is why studies claim that rural roads are technically more dangerous – because they have a higher fatal accident rate.
Why is the rate higher?
Much of the higher fatality rate just has to do with the speed of the vehicles at the time of the crash. There are more accidents, more cars and more people in the city. But many of the accidents only happen at 20 to 30 miles an hour, so fatalities are rather unlikely.
On rural roads, vehicles may be traveling closer to 60 miles an hour. Accidents happen less often, but they’re much more likely to be deadly when they do.
Another thing to consider is the distance to medical care for someone who has been seriously injured in a crash. Every extra mile away from the hospital increases response times for the medical team. Someone who gets injured in an accident on a remote rural road could pass away from their injuries – when those same injuries would not have been fatal in an urban car accident.
Of course, crashes do happen in both locations every day. Those who have lost loved ones need to know how to seek financial compensation.