Rural roads see more fatal accidents and looking for A.I. to help

Despite lighter traffic, rural roads see a high number of fatal accidents.

In 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recorded that the rate of crashes in the U.S. was 46 per cent higher on rural roads compared to urban roads 1.  Several factors contribute to this such as limited visibility from sharp curves and unmaintained foliage, rough road conditions like potholes and loose gravel ². Additionally, rural roads lack sufficient signage, signals and streetlights thus increasing the risk of accidents ².  Given that rural residents tend to travel 50 per cent more miles compared to their urban counterparts, they rely on these roads for essential services like education, employment and healthcare, making road safety necessary ³.

The reality of rural road maintenance

For municipalities, addressing these challenges can be complex. In a report by TRIP, the U.S. is currently facing $198- billion backlog for necessary repairs of which $97- billion is needed just for rural rehabilitation ⁴.

Similarly, in Canada between 2012 and 2021, 74 per cent of fatal vehicle collisions occurred on rural roads ⁵.  Grey County, a predominantly rural area in Ontario, encountered similar issues with manual inspections and inaccurate PCI assessments leading to delayed repairs. Using iris’s A.I. powered road monitoring system allowed them to prioritize repairs thus expanding the lifespan of their roads.

Long term benefits for road safety and even agriculture

 Fewer accidents lead to reduced insurance claims and reduced healthcare costs which benefits both municipalities and its residents ⁶. In addition to these benefits, rural economies stand to gain more as well. In 2023, agriculture and related industries contributed $1.5 - trillion to U.S. economy and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that effective transportation systems directly support rural economies by increasing the value of crops ^3.  By investing in road maintenance through A.I. technology, municipalities can create a safer, more efficient environment that supports public safety and agricultural sector.

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References:

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2023). Traffic Safety Facts 2021: Rural/Urban Comparison (Report No. DOT HS 813 488). Retrieved from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813488.pdf
2. Bergeron Clifford. (2024, June 5). Hazards associated with bad roads. Retrieved from https://www.bergeronclifford.com/2024/06/05/hazards-associated-with-bad-roads/
3. (2024). Rural Connections: Examining the Safety, Connectivity, Condition, and Funding Needs of America’s Rural Roads & Bridges. Retrieved from https://tripnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TRIP_Rural_Connections_Report_September_2024.pdf
4. Rural Ontario Institute. (2020). Road Infrastructure in Rural Ontario (Focus on Rural Ontario, Vol. 7, No. 9). Retrieved from https://www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca/uploads/userfiles/files/Road%20Infrastructure_Vol%207%20No%209.pdf
5. ca. (2023). Driving Statistics in Canada. Retrieved from https://tests.ca/driving-statistics/
6. Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). (2023). The Future of Municipal Liability and Risk Management. Retrieved from https://www.amo.on.ca/sites/default/files/assets/DOCUMENTS/Joint%20and%20Several%20Liability%20Insurance/2023/TheFutureofMunicipalLiabilityandRiskManagementRPT2023-08-16.pdf