Driving in the city can feel hectic and stressful, and you may feel you are always only seconds away from a collision. Driving on highways and the interstate can feel dangerous for other reasons. The traffic is fast, and there are often lots of large trucks that you know could crush you in an instant.
So you might feel some relief when you reach a quiet rural road. You’d be wise not to underestimate the danger, though.
Feeling safe can lead to overconfidence
People who expect a road to be empty often drive according to that assumption. They take bends wide because they do not expect anyone to be coming the other way. Or they hurtle along at a high speed because they believe the road is empty and that what they do won’t affect anyone else. Both increase crash risk.
Help may be a long time coming
If you collide with another vehicle on an urban road, someone is likely to notice straight away. They can call for help, and it will reach you fast, as hospitals are usually located in urban areas. If the accident occurs on a busy highway, there’s also a strong chance someone will notice quickly, and emergency vehicles will be able to speed their way toward you, as there is plenty of space for other vehicles to move out of their way.
If, by contrast, you go off the road on a quiet rural road, your vehicle might not be noticed for hours. Once someone calls for help, the ambulance may have a long way to come along roads that are not fast to drive on due to bends and a lack of a second lane to overtake on.
Prompt medical attention can often result in less serious consequences in vehicle crashes. Those injured on any kind of road would be wise to learn more about how best to claim.
