Slow down, stay patient on rural roads

Driving in rural areas might seem relaxing compared to navigating crowded streets and highways in the state’s largest cities and suburbs, but crashes on rural roads are a serious and deadly problem. In addition, emergency response times can be longer in rural areas.

Each year more people are killed in traffic crashes in rural areas of Texas than in urban areas, even though the state’s population is nearly 84% urban. TxDOT’s “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign aims to educate motorists about the challenges associated with driving on rural roads. Motorists should remember that although rural roads might have less traffic than urban areas, they can be more narrow and winding and deserve every bit of drivers’ attention. Drivers may also encounter large, slow-moving equipment that requires extra caution when passing.

To help prevent dangerous crashes and save lives, TxDOT is sharing the following rural driving safety tips:

• Slow down and stay at a safe speed. Rural roads often have lower speed limits because they are narrow, have more curves, and carry larger and slower vehicles. Exceeding posted speed limits increases your risk of a crash and your chances of injury or death being seriously injured or dying.

• Wear your seat belt. Seat belts save lives every day, and they are just as important on rural roads as on urban ones. You can never predict when a crash will happen. Regardless of the driving conditions on a rural road, remember: Buckle up day and night, every rider, every ride.

 • Watch out for large vehicles and equipment. Farmers and other rural drivers may be moving large equipment on public roads, and sometimes that equipment takes up more than a single lane. Slow down when you see large vehicles ahead and yield to them on narrow roads. Also remember that large vehicles may make wide right turns, so you should never try to squeeze between them and the curb.

 • Pass safely. If you need to pass a slower vehicle on a rural road, be patient and pass only when conditions are safe and there’s no oncoming traffic. Don’t attempt to pass while on a hill or on a curving road, and always pay attention to posted signage and pavement lane markings that indicate where passing is allowed or prohibited.

• Watch for hidden driveways. A lot of people live along rural roadways, and it can be difficult to see private driveways. Stay alert and scan for hidden turnoffs.

• Look out for signs warning of livestock crossing. If animals are on the road, stop and wait patiently for them to finish crossing the roadway completely.

• Drive a safe speed at night. Rural roads often have fewer streetlights than urban streets. Slow down, use your headlights and pay attention.

• Prepare for emergencies. It’s easier to get lost or stranded in rural areas and cell coverage can be spotty. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, make sure you’re using a navigation system or have a map of your route. Fill your fuel tank before getting on the road and keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.

 “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.