USAgencies

While some motorists have no trouble navigating busy, city streets, others prefer to drive country roads where they feel safer. But, are back roads really safer? It depends on who you ask.

Case in point – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes it their mission to test vehicles for their safety as well as gather statistics on various studies to alert drivers of the risks of texting and driving, among other important research.

According to a 2014 NHTSA report, although only 19 percent of the U.S. population lives in the country’s rural areas, 54 percent of all traffic deaths in 2012 were attributed to rural fatalities – which means you stand a better chance of being seriously injured or killed in a rural crash, than you would driving on a city street or highway.

Driving requires your full attention, whether motoring down a city street or along a country road. Neither is a place for texting, eating, applying makeup or engaging in a variety of other distractions.

Driving in the city

Some of the hazards of driving in the city include:

• Rear-ending the car in front of you if they stop suddenly or you are distracted and you don’t realize traffic has stopped ahead of you.
• Pedestrians crossing in front of you – in or out of the crosswalk.
• Drivers looking for parking who cut you off to get the last space on the street.
• Drivers pulling out of a parking space without signaling or looking.
• Drivers running red lights or stop signs.

Driving in the country

Driving city streets and urban highways can be risky, especially during rush hour. But just as many, if not more, hazards await you on rural roads. Among the common dangers to watch out for are:

• Being involved in a single-car accident, resulting in a roll-over, the hitting of a tree or other large object is more likely in rural areas.
• Colliding with a deer or other wild animal.
• Drunk drivers – because they wrongly believe they run a lower risk of getting into or causing an accident when they are in rural areas.
• Drivers asleep at the wheel on dark or poorly lit roads.
• Speeders or lane changers in non-passing zones.
• During the winter, rural roads may not be well-maintained, leaving you vulnerable to icy conditions, snow or flooding.
• Emergency response in rural areas is often slow, delayed or hard to reach.

Interestingly, despite the higher risk of injury or death on rural roads, auto insurance rates continue to be most affordable for motorists who reside in sparsely-populated areas. Meanwhile, city dwellers or those who drive in heavily-populated areas pay more for their premiums.

No matter where you live – the middle of the city or the middle of nowhere – make sure you’re getting the cheapest auto insurance rates available by calling USAgencies today at (800) 420-3712. You can also get your free auto insurance quote comparison today!