The type of driving that people are used to often helps to define what they think is safe and normal. If you’re used to driving on rural roads, you may like the simplicity and low traffic levels. This makes the rural roads feel safe and easy to navigate. If you’re used to driving in the city, urban roads feel easier because everything happens at a low speed, even though there’s more traffic.
But the opposite may feel very dangerous. Someone who usually drives on rural roads may feel overwhelmed in the city. Someone who usually drives in the city may feel confused and worried about the high speeds on rural roads. This is why people are often nervous to drive on the interstate for the first time. So which roads are safer?
City streets are actually safer
It may come as a surprise to some, but city streets are safer and rural roads have a higher risk of fatal accidents. In fact, one study reported that the odds of passing away in an accident were 62% higher when driving on these roads.
Speed does have a lot to do with this. It’s not just the interstate. Many rural roads have speed limits set at 55 miles an hour, and some drivers will even exceed these speed limits. In the city, lower speed limits reduce the odds of death in an accident. There may be more accidents and more overall traffic in the city, but it is much less common for these accidents to be fatal.
What options do you have?
Have you lost a loved one in a car accident? No matter what type of road it was on, if the accident was caused by another negligent driver, you may need to know what legal steps you can take.