Widening safety gaps on rural roads nationwide

Rural drivers face a higher risk for every mile they travel

A new national analysis shows that rural roads remain significantly more dangerous than urban streets, with safety gaps continuing to widen.  

According to Omega Law Group PC, the fatality rate on rural roads in 2022 reached 1.68 deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled, compared with 1.15 in urban areas. Although only 20% of Americans live in rural communities, these areas accounted for 41% of all U.S. traffic deaths. This shows that rural drivers face a higher risk for every mile they travel. 

Rural regions also create a major imbalance between population share and fatality share. Rural drivers travel only 32% of total miles driven nationwide, yet still face disproportionately higher crash risks. While the rural fatality rate has fallen from earlier years, it remains almost 50% higher than in urban settings. 

A major factor is roadway-departure crashes, which occur when drivers leave the travel lane or run off the road. In 2023, around 64% of rural traffic deaths involved roadway departures, nearly double the share in urban areas.  

Many rural roads lack features such as wide shoulders, rumble strips, median barriers, or proper lighting. When combined with higher speed limits, these conditions make rural crashes more severe and more difficult to avoid. 

Speed also contributes to rural risk. In 2022, about 28% of rural fatalities involved speeding. Most of these crashes happened on roads with speed limits above 55 mph, where small mistakes can lead to serious consequences. 

Emergency response time creates another major challenge. On average, rural EMS response times are more than double those in urban areas. Many rural crashes occur far from major hospitals, meaning victims often wait longer for care during the critical first hour after an injury. 

The next year is an important policy window as states prepare 2025 infrastructure plans and federal transportation funding continues. Without increased investment and up-to-date safety programs, rural communities could continue facing higher fatality rates.  

The analysis from Omega Law Group PC shows that improving rural road design, strengthening emergency response, and focusing on proven safety measures can reduce preventable deaths across rural America. 

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