Rural and urban motor vehicle collisions: is there a fatal divide?

Author(s): James Roos
Student Paper Competition: Honourable Mention

Slidedeck Presentation not available:

Abstract:

While it has been consistently demonstrated that fatal motor vehicle collision rates are higher for rural than urban roadways, it remains to be elucidated which collision factors account for this difference. Factors such as alcohol use, vehicle speed, restraint use, and driving experience
have been identified as potential risks for fatalities in motor vehicle collisions. Environmental factors including weather conditions, visibility, and road type have also been associated with motor vehicle collision fatalities; however, fatal motor vehicle collision rates have been
demonstrated to be higher in rural locations even when controlling for age, restraint use, and vehicle speed.

This study aims to assess which collision factors are most prevalent for fatal rural motor vehicle collisions, and to address how those factors differ in significance between rural and urban regions.