There are a number of common causes of car accidents in rural areas. These include speeding, distracted driving and lack of resources. All of these are important to avoid but there are also unique factors that are often overlooked.
Distracted driving
Driver distraction was responsible for one in five road accidents in the last three years. This is the second most dangerous fault on rural roads.
The most common types of distracted driving crashes were related to passengers, people, and outside objects. During a five-minute driving trip, drivers were more likely to be distracted. During this time, the most common activities were adjusting in-vehicle equipment, looking out at passengers, and lack of concentration.
On rural roads, males were responsible for a greater percentage of distracted driving crashes than females. Distracted activity was also more common in younger drivers.
Among the most significant driving errors were swerving, sudden braking, and other driving incidents. A majority of distracted driving crashes occurred during the midday and evening hours. Almost three times more crashes on rural and suburban roadways occur during the weekdays.
Rural roads have a higher death rate than urban roads. These roads have lower traffic volumes and are more efficient. They are also more likely to have a 2-way road. Drivers must be aware that farm vehicles can occasionally cross the road at any time during the day. If a driver fails to notice that a tractor is on the road, he may slam into it or hit another vehicle.
Drivers may fail to see the stop sign or the traffic light. They may also turn the wrong way on a one-way road. Another distraction is a cell phone. While holding the phone, a driver cannot look at the road and do other tasks at the same time.
Drivers are more likely to be distracted and hit other vehicles when they make wide turns, back up or emergency stops. The Federal Highway Administration has been working on improving visibility through retroreflective pavement markings and roadway lights.
Speeding – Abogados de Accidentes Riverside
Car accidents are often caused by speeding, especially in rural areas. In fact, one in every fourteen motor vehicle crashes involves a driver speeding or driving too fast for the conditions.
Safety hazards can be created by driving too fast for the road conditions. Rural roads are also at risk because of the unpredictable environment. Poor lighting or road repairs can also impact safety.
Research shows that speeding can be involved in 13 percent of crashes that result in injuries. That’s a lot of deaths. Taking into account that one fatal car accident occurs almost every 14 minutes, it’s not surprising that a driver who’s over the speed limit is risking their own life and the lives of other drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding is responsible for more than 37,000 car accidents that result in death each year. More than half of these fatalities occur on rural roads. These roads are less crowded and have less traffic. They are however more dangerous.
Rural drivers are at higher risk of serious injury and death than their urban counterparts. They are often distracted from things like text messaging or talking on the telephone. Also, there are fewer resources available to provide emergency medical services. As a result, these motorists are less likely to wear a seatbelt.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was one of the major causes of recent traffic accidents. In fact, 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2020 were caused by speeding.
Drivers in rural areas are also more likely to be impaired. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), drunk driving crashes rose by 22.1 percent between 2018 and 2018.
Although speeding is one of the major factors in causing rural traffic crashes, it’s not the only reason. Other contributing factors include weather conditions and vehicles.
Heavy rain and snow
Many apprehensive road warriors would beg to differ. Despite the occasional traffic jam, a rural commute can be a fun and rewarding experience if only for the opportunity to check out local landmarks like the local brewery, golf course, or stately home. The vast majority of these rural enclaves offer a variety of breathtaking sights to enjoy. In addition, some of the more intrepid citizens can find a resplendent respite within the confines of their own back yards. While we’re on the subject, the country’s diverse flora & fauna makes for some of its most beautiful vistas. Lastly, as is par for the course, the aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned may not be found in one sex or a second. The surprise is not over yet. You don’t have far to go if you’ve been looking for the best places in town to eat.
Manufacture shortage
Car accidents are more common in rural areas, than in urban ones. These numbers may vary depending on where you live. A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, (GHSA), examines the extent of the problem. It also recommends strategies to improve rural road safety.
Other than speeding and distracted driving and the environment, human behavior and land use all play a part in determining whether an incident occurs on a rural road or an urban one. Rural roads are often unpaved and have narrow lanes and sharp turns. They are also vulnerable to weather conditions that can make them dangerous.
Urban areas have more cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motor vehicles. Accidents are more likely to occur when there is more traffic.
Crash data has shown that crashes on rural roads are more likely due to distraction, speeding and run-off road accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of fatal crashes on rural roads can be up to three times greater than on urban roads. This could be due to a shortage of resources on the rural side.
As in urban roads, fatally injured drivers have a decreased percentage of those with blood alcohol concentrations above 0.08 percent. From 1982 to 1994 49 percent of fatally injures drivers had BACs over 0.08 percent, but this percentage has fallen steadily since then.
In 2020, speeding was a contributing factor to similar numbers of rural and urban road crash deaths. In 2011, speeding was responsible for 31 percent of rural road crash deaths, but it dropped to 28 percent the year after.
Distracted driving was 22% of all crashes reported in rural roads. Interestingly, the percentage of distracted driving crashes increased in rural roadways at midday.
Cultural differences
Car accidents on rural roads are a fact of life. They are caused by a combination of poor roadway infrastructure, lack of safety resources and risky driver behaviors. In addition, the roadways in rural areas are often less travelled and more difficult to police.
Despite this, rural roads are seeing an increase in car crashes. A recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Association found that almost half of all traffic deaths occur on rural roads. This is an alarming number, especially considering that only 19% of the country lives in rural areas.
The GHSA has conducted a thorough review of all available data to determine the causes of these accidents, and make recommendations to reduce them. While most studies have concentrated on urban and suburban areas of the equation, a few have considered the rural side.
As a result, the GHSA has released an updated report that aims to better understand the problem and offer suggestions for reducing it. This comprehensive report includes analysis of federal data, inputs from a panel SHSOs, peer-reviewed literature, and an analysis of federal data. Toxcel, a Virginia-based research consultancy firm, also contributed its opinion.
Among its findings was the GHSA’s finding that rural road deaths have increased over the past three years. Young drivers are also hitting rural roads in record numbers. These drivers are also less likely than others to wear seat belts and more likely not to follow the posted speed limit. The GHSA believes that a combination policy, technology, training, and policy will reduce the number of rural highway crashes. To improve rural road safety, the GHSA developed a series rural safety tools for Abogados de Accidentes Riverside law enforcement agencies, motorists and citizens.