Drivers never know when they might cross paths with a semi-truck. Commercial vehicles are a common sight on city streets and freeways. Motorists in Ohio and Michigan generally try to give commercial trucks plenty of space on the open road and at intersections.
After all, the crashes caused by semi-trucks tend to have much more serious consequences for the people in the smaller vehicles than for the operator of the commercial truck. Given that many semi-trucks make routine deliveries at businesses, people expect to encounter them on urban roads. However, they may have more risk of a semi-truck crash on rural roads than they realize.
What do statistics say about rural semi-truck crashes?
Rural roads can be a dangerous place to drive
Collisions with commercial vehicles on country roads are far more common than many drivers might realize. In Michigan in 2022, there were more than 100 major commercial vehicle crashes. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 54 of those crashes took place in rural settings, while 61 collisions occurred on urban roads. In Ohio, the ratio was far different for the more than 200 big-rig wrecks reported. There were 125 rural semi-truck collisions and 94 crashes on urban roads.
Rural collisions can prove devastating
It takes longer for first responders to reach the scene of a crash in a rural setting. If everyone involved sustains injuries, it could be some time before other people drive by the scene of the crash and report it to authorities. Additionally, higher speeds on rural routes often mean that the collisions that occur on these roads are particularly severe.
What contributes to the high rate of rural collisions?
Semi-truck drivers sometimes have to make deliveries to businesses in rural locations. Drivers are also often eager to bypass busy urban roads where there could be traffic jams or collisions that slow them down. Drivers may intentionally exit highways and travel on rural roads to reach their destinations as quickly as possible. Truck drivers may feel more confident about speeding aggressively on rural roads because they know there are fewer police officers patrolling when compared with city streets.
People involved in semi-truck collisions often have major expenses and may require support seeking compensation. Understanding the factors that contribute to semi-truck crash risk can make it easier for people to pursue compensation and justice after a wreck, or to defend against accusations that they have caused harm. That’s okay. Legal guidance is always available.