When it comes to road safety, there is sometimes a big gap between perception and reality. People will feel much safer than they actually are, usually because they’re in an area that they’re familiar with.
One example of this comes from rural roads. Those who drive in rural areas often say that these roads feel safer, less complicated and easier to understand. Many drivers never really think about getting in an accident. They know that it could technically happen, but the roads don’t seem cluttered and chaotic like they do in the city, so the level of risk seems very low.
But in reality, the exact opposite is true. The fatal car accident rate on those rural roads is higher than it is in the city. The very roads that people perceive as being safe are where they face the greatest risks from other drivers.
Why is this true?
All car accidents are complicated and involve numerous unique factors. But some of the reasons why rural roads have a higher fatality rate include:
- Speed limits are higher, increasing the severity of injuries.
- Medical care is farther away, leading to delays in treatment.
- Seatbelt use is less common, increasing the odds of a fatality.
- Drunk driving is common, making accidents possible even on simple roads.
Many of these factors don’t really become clear until after an accident. A driver on a rural road may not think about how far they are from the hospital, for example, until it takes 20 minutes for EMTs to arrive at the crash site.
If you have suffered injuries in a car crash or lost a loved one, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and more.
