BOISE – It’s Rural Road Safety Awareness Week, and AAA is reminding drivers to exercise caution when traveling in the Idaho backcountry.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2022, 41% of the fatal crashes nationwide occurred in rural areas, despite just 20% of the population living there.  That year, Idaho was tied for 6th place in the nation with a rural to urban fatality rate of 2.3 – meaning that rural crash fatalities occurred more than twice as often as they did on urban roads.

“A combination of factors may be contributing to the devastation on rural roads – statistically, drivers in these environments are less likely to wear a seat belt.  Signage, lane markings, and lighting may be different than in an urban setting, and more roadside obstacles may be present, such as hillsides, trees and rocks.  It may also take longer for help to arrive after a crash, or to transport someone for medical attention,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde.  “Regardless of how it’s happening, we need to dispel the myth that just because someone is driving in a remote area, nothing bad can happen.  There’s no safe place to be reckless or distracted.”

U.S. rural crash deaths – 2022 numbers (NHTSA)

  • About two-thirds of rural crash fatalities involve a roadway departure, compared with 37% in urban areas
  • 85% of rural crash fatalities occurred in ideal weather conditions, and more than half occurred during daylight hours
  • Crash fatalities were higher on rural roads for 55- to 84-year-olds than on urban roads
  • 68% of drivers killed in rural areas died at the scene of the crash, compared to 52% in urban areas
  • 35% of rural crash fatalities involved a rollover.  Of those killed in a rollover crash, 70% were not wearing a seat belt

The Idaho Transportation Department estimates that at least 277 people died in Idaho crashes last year, making it the deadliest year on Idaho roads in 20 years.

“Rural roads may be long and winding, and they simply aren’t designed to carry traffic that is traveling at freeway speeds,” Conde said.  “Slow down, wear your seat belt, and actively scan the road ahead – the last thing you want to do is end up leaving the roadway or overcorrecting into a rollover.  Share your travel plans with friends and loved ones who can act on your behalf if you fail to arrive.”