Driving in our rural areas increases the risk of a fatal crash.
Only a few weeks ago, we learned of the deadly accident involving three Rochester children who died from injuries sustained when they were hit by a pickup truck as they were crossing North Indiana State Road 25 to get on their school bus. See, “Deadly Indiana School Bus Crash: Driver Charged With Reckless Homicide.”
How much did the location of the roadway itself contribute to this school bus crossing crash? That is a determination still being considered by those investigating the tragedy; however, we do know that rural roads are extremely dangerous for serious and fatal motor vehicle accidents.
Risk of Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
From an analysis of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), we know the following (using the latest data (2016)):
Illinois
Illinois has a population of around 13,000,000 million people who drive almost 110,000,000 miles each year. One thousand motor vehicle accidents during that time frame will result in at least one person dying from injuries sustained in that crash.
Statistically, Illinois has a death rate of 8.5 per 100,000 people due to fatal traffic accidents.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois saw an 8% jump in fatal motor vehicle accidents in the span of a single year. See, April 2018’s Crash Facts and Statistics published by the State of Illinois, page 2.
Indiana
Indiana has a population of around 7,000,000 million people who drive almost 83,000,000 miles each year. Around 770 motor vehicle accidents during that time frame will result in at least one person dying from their injuries.
Statistically, Indiana has a death rate of 12.4 per 100,000 people due to fatal traffic accidents.
Rural Road Crash Deaths: Higher Risk of Fatal Accidents
Studies of fatal crashes have been divided into two groups: those that occur on urban roadways versus fatal accidents that happen in rural areas.
According to the IIHS, the rate of crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled was 2.4 times higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
This was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their March 2017 study, “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Rural Health Series.”
The CDC warns you are TEN TIMES more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident when driving on rural routes in this country as compared to urban areas.
For details, read “Fatal Car Crashes: 10 Times More Likely to Die on Rural Roads.”
Why Are Our Rural Roads So Deadly?
We know that while only 19% of Americans live in rural areas, and only 30% of vehicle miles each year are travelled on rural roads, yet over half of crash deaths occur there.
Why is the risk so much greater of dying in a motor vehicle accident on a rural road? There are several reasons why rural roads pose greater dangers to Indiana and Illinois drivers. They include:
- Change in Density
Obviously, driving in Indianapolis or Chicago is much different than operating a truck, car, minivan, bus, semi-truck, or motorcycle along a rural road. Exit the city, and you have less traffic to consider for one thing (researchers call this a change in “density.”)
- Driving at Higher Speeds
State laws can also change speed limits when rural routes are involved. For instance, while the State of Indiana mandates in IC 9-21-5-1 that no one may drive at any speed “… greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions, having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing,” it is legal to drive at 70 mph on some Indiana roadways.
Illinois lawmakers have passed similar speed limit legislation (see, e.g., 625 ILCS 5/11‑601), which provides no one may drive “… upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property.” It is legal in Illinois to drive at 65 mph on some roads.
Of course, those who regularly take rural routes to home, school, or work know their byways and familiarity with those rural roads may invite them to drive faster than the posted speed limit. Speeding on rural roads is a known practice in both Indiana and Illinois.
- Medical Care after Rural Road Accident
Another consideration that impacts the risk of death in a rural road accident is the remote area and the time needed for first responders to arrive on the scene to evaluate and treat the accident victims. It simply takes longer for police and EMS to arrive at a rural accident site.
Drive with Caution on Rural Roads
There are risks that all drivers face anytime we get behind the wheel: we become vulnerable to people who endanger our lives because of things like speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.
These risks become even greater as we drive along the rural roads of Indiana and Illinois. The upcoming winter months will add more risks of driving in rural areas as drivers will face road hazards and weather conditions that can hamper visibility and the ability to hold the road (traction) and control the vehicle.
In our next post, we will discuss safety measures for rural road fatal crash dangers in our part of the country. How can you and your loved ones avoid a fatal rural road crash? What justice is available for those who fall victim to a fatal rural road accident? Please be careful out there!
