Strange: Why Do Red States Have More Traffic Fatalities?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

38. You joke but I think that is part of the issue.

When I visit my SO's family in rural Illinois I always note how much driving is needed between point A to point B.

Not only the distance but the SPEED on those rural two lane highways is 55 (plus).

Lots of opportunities for head-on collision and serious single car accidents.

The SO pointed out to me all the places his family have run off the road over the years. His sister had a serious roll-over coming home from her late night nursing job. His mom put the car in the ditch on one of the 55mph roads a few years ago.

It seems we always hear of a car load of high school kids killed on rural roads. My SO lost HS friends that way. I honestly didn't remember any kids in my HS class killed in car accidents (urban/suburban HS). Around where I grew up, most speed limits are 25,30,35 and a few 45s.

To this day, I still refuse to take the "short cut" on the two lane un-divided highway to mom's house. Give me four divided lanes any day.

I would be curious to see the data broken down by county and rural versus urban/suburban.

I just spent a week on the road between Chicago and Phoenix. I was looking forward to the 75 mph highways outside Illinois. What I didn't anticipate was the fact the TRUCKS can also travel 75 (in Illinois most 65 mph routes restrict trucks to 55). I think that's too fast for trucks and it sucks competing for the passing lane with some truck swerving around in high winds.