Rural roads can be surprisingly dangerous for drivers. Not only are they narrower and have lower shoulders than city streets, but they also have fewer law enforcement patrols.
According to federal data from 2010, the last year complete information is available for, South Carolina is among states with the largest number of traffic deaths on country roads, the Bozeman [Montana] Daily Chronicle reports. The state is ranked as the third deadliest after Montana and Arkansas.
Another study by the Washington-based research group, TRIP, used 2009 statistics to rank South Carolina as the most dangerous state for rural drivers, the Charlotte Observer reported. TRIP discovered that South Carolina had 4.7 fatalities for every 100 million miles driven. Florida, the second most dangerous state, had a fatality rate of 3.47 for every 100 million miles.
AAA Carolinas said in 2011 that South Carolina motorists have a higher risk of dying on rural roads than on city streets. Many of the state’s country roads lacked proper shoulders and were not getting enough focus from law enforcement, the organization said.
TRIP made these recommendations to improve safety:
- Rumble strips on center lines and sides of the roads;
- Better signage and reflective lane markings;
- More lighting on roads;
- Skid-resistant surfaces on curves and reduction of angles;
- Turn lanes at intersections;
- Widening lanes; and
- Adding or paving shoulders.
Need Legal Help?
Automobile crashes can occur for many reasons. Sometimes a treacherous roadway or construction can lead to a serious crash. Under these circumstances, head-on collisions may be the unfortunate result because opposite-direction traffic is not adequately separated. Our South Carolina auto accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm understand that no matter what the cause, a crash can have physical, emotional and financial consequences for all involved. That’s why we’re always ready to fight for your rights if you or someone you love is the victim of a motor vehicle collision. Please contact us for a free consultation at 888-918-4958 or fill out our convenient online form today. We are proud of the compensation we have obtained for South Carolina injury and accident victims.
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