Why is driving on rural roads sometimes more dangerous than on city streets? Often, drivers will feel like they are experiencing a high level of risk when they have to drive in the city, mostly due to the complexity of the roads and heavy traffic levels. If they get to drive on a rural road, they will feel much safer because it seems a lot simpler, and there are not nearly as many cars.
However, when you compare the statistics and look at the number of fatal accidents that happen per mile driven, it becomes clear that driving on rural roads is actually more dangerous. Fatal accidents happen with a greater frequency, so your risks are higher. Why is this? We cover why driving on rural roads can be even more dangerous than on city streets.
Why are Rural Roads Dangerous?
Proximity to the hospital
To start with, an accident on a rural road is likely going to be further from the hospital than a crash in the city. It may take an ambulance just a few minutes to arrive at a crash scene on an urban street, but it could take them half an hour to find a crash site on a distant rural road. When every minute counts due to a person’s injuries, that can be a major difference.
Higher speeds
Another major reason is that the speed limits are higher. Fatal accidents are just more likely at higher speeds, especially on two-lane roads. Even drivers who follow the speed limit on a rural road are going faster than drivers who follow the speed limit in the city.
Risky Behaviors
Some reports also note that certain risky behaviors are more common on rural roads. These include things like intoxicated driving or driving without a seatbelt. These things certainly happen in the city as well, but they combine with the other factors listed above to make the rural roads especially dangerous.
Deer on Rural Roads
From October through December, deer are on the move due to mating season and they start appearing more frequently around rural roads, especially at night. That makes it absolutely critical to understand what you can do to minimize the odds of a wreck. Here are the things you need to keep in mind:
The hour just after sunset and the hour just around sunrise are the two most common times for accidents with deer. That’s partially because of when the deer are active – and partially because humans are on the road more around those times due to their daily commutes.
Drivers need to avoid a couple of major mistakes when they encounter deer on the road. First, don’t rely on your high beams to scare off a deer that you see in the road. Flashing your brights may or may not drive off the deer – but it almost certainly will blind any oncoming drivers. That could cause them to momentarily lose their focus, cross the yellow line, and drive right into you.
Easton Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve lost a loved one in an accident caused by another driver, then you need to know how to seek financial compensation. Our car accident lawyer can explain what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault in Pennsylvana and your options for at-fault accident claims in Lehigh Valley. Contact an Easton car accident lawyer to learn more today.
