Do you like to drive on Tennessee’s beautiful country roads? Then you better make sure you are paying attention. Fifty percent more people die on rural roads than on urban roads such as we have here Memphis and other cities.
It’s a fact that in Tennessee, more numbers of people are killed every year in accidents on rural roads than on urban roads. According to the NHTSA, 607 fatal accidents were recorded on rural roads last year, while in urban roads, that number was just 428. That is a staggering difference in fatality rates. Especially when you take into account the fact that there are far fewer drivers on rural roads than there are on urban roads.
Tennessee seems to share this distinctive urban rural-divide with our neighbor Georgia, but that state has a much narrower gap between rural and urban accidents deaths – 700 on rural roads, and 687 on urban roads last year.
There are several reasons that contribute to this alarming divide.
- One major factor is the low rates of seat belt usage in these areas. While drivers in Memphis and surrounding areas have a seat belt usage rate of 85 percent, the rate in rural areas is just between 60 and 65 percent.
- Drivers on rural roads also tend to be overconfident, because they have been driving on these roads all their lives. This could lead to a sense of complacency, which could be fatal in a motorist.
- Rural roads also tend to be poorly designed, with sharp curves that may take motorists by surprise.
- Authorities also blame the high fatality rate on speeding. These back roads are not designed for traveling at high speeds.
What can be done to lower this high number of rural car fatalities? The Governor‘s Office of Highway Safety and Tennessee Department of Transportation say that they will soon implement education campaigns to increase awareness about seat belt use. And there are also plans to paint yellow stripes to warn motorists about sharp curves ahead.
These plans sound good, but will they really work? I grew up in rural Mississippi and can tell you from experience that I knew way too many people who where seriously hurt in car wrecks. What was the main reason – alcohol.
I wish that I had the stats to see if most of these fatalities occurred on Friday and Saturday nights, and the average age of the victims. The weekend entertainment in a small town usually consists of jumping in a car or truck with your buddies and drinking a few cold ones. No good decisions or outcomes occur from this.
The answer to solve this problem? It’s not as easy as a few public service announcements saying you need to wear a seat belt. The only way this will be solved is when poeple decide to act responsibly. And as long as there are people who are looking just to have a good time, that’s probably not going to happen.
