Beware Lonesome Roads

Beware Lonesome Roads*

The Federal Highway Administration has found that 57% of highway related deaths occur on roads considered rural, yet only 21% of Americans live in rural areas. Those statistics would seem to advise traveling rural roads with an added bit of caution but it seems the opposite may be true for many drivers according to recent studies.

"Logic would dictate that drivers would be most cautious and alert on the most dangerous roads, but Americans seem to be lulled into a false sense of security on our tranquil rural highways," said Munnich. "It's a less chaotic experience, so it apparently feels like a safer experience. This is a myth we have to bust."

link here

Put the food, beer and cell phone down and pay attention to your driving.
Never mind the scenery, eyes on the road.

This feeling of relaxation and safety seems to lead to a bit more risk taking on the more dangerous rural highways. For instance, Americans are more likely to feel safe eating, use a cell phone and drinking and driving on rural highways than they are on urban freeways. This is particularly true of rural residents. For instance, among rural residents, 44 percent said they feel safe using a cell phone on a rural highway versus 14 percent who feel safe suing a cell phone on an urban freeway.

* No relationship implied or otherwise suggested to the fictional Lonesome Rhodes played masterfully by pre-TV by Andy Griffith in the Movie; A Face in the Crowd Also Starring Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau and directed by Elia Kazan