It’s no secret that the interstate highway system is convenient. It allows you to drive faster, major roads connect major destinations, and you can cover a lot of ground very quickly. In a country like the United States, this sort of speed and efficiency is very important.
But is it safe? Accidents at higher speeds carry higher odds of serious injuries and fatalities. Does this mean that the interstate is more dangerous than your typical streets?
Highway safety
It does not. The truth is that the highway system is incredibly safe. You’re generally in far more danger on other roads, despite people’s irrational fear of high speeds when they first start driving.
The difference is that the sheer odds of getting into a crash are much lower, in large part because the exits and on-ramps are so strictly controlled. You never have cars crossing each other’s paths, and everything that happens is generally predictable, even when it happens quickly.
Plus, with a divided roadway, there is almost no chance of a head-on crash. They happen occasionally, and tend to be devastating when they do, but your odds of getting involved in one on the interstate are almost zero.
Have you been injured?
While it is helpful to think about how safe or dangerous various roads are, please note that even low odds of an accident do not mean you’ll never get involved in one. And, if that crash happens at high speeds, your injuries could be serious. You need to know how to seek financial compensation.
