In 2007, 61 percent of SACOG-region fatal collisions occurred in rural areas, despite the fact that just 13 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Regardless of fault, unforgiving road conditions and incompatible traffic patterns can turn a crash into a fatality.
In the SACOG region from 1998 to 2007, 34 percent of rural fatal collisions were hit-object collisions and 16 percent were broadside collisions. Apart from high-risk driving behaviors such as speeding and driving under the influence, the most common violations associated with fatal rural collisions were improper turning and automobile right-of-way. Time of day also significantly affects the severity of accidents. Twenty-nine percent of fatal collisions occurred at night without street lights, while only 16 percent occurred at night with street lights.
These types of collisions are avoidable with preventative and routine maintenance, roadside safety measures and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions such as a collision counter-measure system that alerts drivers in rural areas when cross traffic is ahead.
Local agencies often do not have the funding to maintain, let alone enhance, the disproportionate number of road miles in their care. Rural areas have 48 percent of the region's road miles, compared to 41 percent in urban areas and 10 percent in small urban areas.
As part of its RUCS planning efforts, SACOG has produced a sample "safety report" for each county in the region, containing safety data similar to that found in this article. These safety reports are an example of the type of technical assistance SACOG offers its members as they work toward finding roadway safety solutions at the local level.
Customized safety data can be a critical component in securing funding from grants like the High Risk Rural Roads (HR3) Program. Through its technical assistance program, SACOG hopes to help bolster grant applications and inform public policy decisions that will make our rural roadways safer.
For more information on technical assistance contact Christine Scherman at cscherman@sacog.org or (916) 340-6262.