Understanding The Dangers of Driving on Rural Roads

In the state of Florida, there are close to 400,000 car accidents reported every year. Thousands will be fatal, and hundreds of thousands will result in injuries. There are many reasons why accidents happen, including driver errors, such as driving while intoxicated or disobeying the rules of the road. There are also other factors that can lead to car accidents, such as weather conditions or time of day. Nighttime driving, for example, is more perilous than daytime driving because it is much harder to see at night than it is in the day. 

Location is also a factor that can contribute to a car accident taking place. For example, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association reports that driving on rural roads may be far more dangerous than driving on other roads. According to the data, almost half of all deadly crashes take place on rural roads.

What Makes Rural Roads so Dangerous?

When you consider traffic congestion, pedestrians walking about, bicyclists, and more that exist in suburban and urban areas, it may seem like these areas would be the most dangerous locations for drivers. Indeed, these areas report many more crashes annually than rural roads do. However, the dangers on rural roads can mean that when an accident does happen, it has a high likelihood of becoming deadly.

Hazards and risks that exist on rural roads that can lead to deadly crashes include:

• Rural roads are often narrow, and drivers do not have ample room to drive. Encountering anything that requires an adjustment in driving, like another vehicle approaching from a different direction or any other road hazard, means there is limited space for a driver to maneuver their vehicle to avoid a crash.
• Rural roads are usually not paved and maintained like highways and other roadways. Therefore, the road surface can be uneven, with holes, divots, and other hazards that make driving much harder.
• Rural roads that are unpaved may become slick with mud in rain or harder to drive over when the weather conditions are inclement.
• Long-distance driving in rural areas can lead to fatigued and distracted driving where your mind is not focused on driving but either zoning out or watching what is happening around you rather than concentrating on operating your vehicle safely.
• Rural areas have more wildlife that may be in the roadway or could run out onto it and surprise a driver.
• It can become very dark, and a driver’s visibility can diminish at night on a rural roadway because of a lack of traffic lights, street lights, and ambient light.

Call Fulgencio Law Today

Knowing the risks and hazards that exist on rural roads can help you better prepare the next time you are driving through the countryside. However, if you are hurt in a car accident, having experienced legal counsel helping you with an injury claim can be advantageous to get the full amount of compensation you are owed for your damages.

To learn more about the car accident injury claims process, please call a Florida auto accident injury attorney at Fulgencio Law at (813) 463-0123 to schedule a free consultation.