Data on fatal traffic accidents in urban and rural areas

Whether you drive on rural roads each day or you typically drive in a rural area, it is essential to understand the risks you face. From busy cities to quiet towns in the countryside, driving anywhere can result in an accident that causes serious injuries or even deaths.

Reviewing statistics on deadly crashes helps shed light on the risks drivers face, regardless of which roads they travel on. Sadly, more people will lose their lives in the months ahead due to drunk drivers, distracted driving and a host of other risk factors.

Statistics on fatal crashes on urban and rural roads

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published data on deadly accidents that occurred on rural and urban roads. In 2019, more than 36,000 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes. While 54% of these fatalities happened in urban areas (19,595), 45% took place on rural roads (16,340). Clearly, the risk of a fatal accident (as well as a crash that causes serious injuries) is a major concern on urban as well as rural roads.

Other statistics on fatal accidents in urban and rural places

The NHTSA reports that while 19% of people in the U.S. lived in rural areas during 2019, rural traffic accidents made up for 45% of all traffic deaths over the course of the year. Moreover, the number of deadly accidents involving alcohol in urban areas went up 21% from 2010 to 2019. If you lost a loved one or suffered an injury in a traffic accident caused by a reckless driver, you need to look into resources that could help.