Rural roads produce the most fatalities
In a report published by NPR using NHTSA data, rural roads are shown to have the highest number of fatal car and truck crashes despite the fact that less people live in rural areas.
In 2008, 56 percent of fatal crashes happened on rural roads despite only 23 percent of the country's population living in rural areas. The report goes on to say that the numbers vary by state and in some areas over 90 percent of highway fatalities are on rural roads.
Urban areas have more people and their residents also drive more, but despite all these factors that should contribute to urban accidents, urban drivers are half as likely to die in a car or truck crash here in Missouri or around the country.
Some reasons for this discrepancy are obvious, while others may not immediately come to mind. Drivers are usually traveling faster on rural roads. Rural roads are also narrower and may lack some modern safety improvements that have been installed on major interstates that run through cities. Tractor trailer crashes are more more deadly as large trucks are forced to share these smaller roads with passenger cars. Rural drivers are also more likely to drive without wearing a seat belt and are more likely to be involved in a drunk driving crash.
Still, despite all these factors, driver error is the cause of most accidents. There's just less room for error on these more dangerous roads. Car and truck drivers that drive negligently must be held responsible if they cause an accident no matter where the crash occurs.
If you or someone in your family is involved in a crash caused by another driver, contact a Missouri car and truck accident lawyer to discuss your rights as an accident victim. You should also consult an attorney if you feel the accident was the result of a dangerous road condition that should have been addressed by transportation officials.
