Final answer:
Rural highway deaths predominantly occur due to higher speed limits, limited access to emergency services, and wildlife presence. Driver error also plays a significant role in such fatalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rural collisions account for a majority of highway deaths due to a variety of factors, rather than a single cause. Among these, higher speed limits on rural highways, limited access to emergency medical services, and the presence of wildlife on rural roads are significant contributors. Rural areas often have higher speed limits, which can result in more severe accidents when they occur. In addition, the distance from medical facilities can delay the arrival of emergency services, reducing the chance of survival for those involved in a collision. Additionally, rural roads are common crossings for wildlife, which can lead to unexpected and dangerous encounters with vehicles.
It is important to note that factors such as weather, natural disasters, and pollution affect the mortality rates within populations, but specific to traffic collisions, driver error is a significant concern. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), driver error accounts for approximately 54 percent of all fatal auto accidents. The presence of factors like driver error, combined with the aforementioned rural road characteristics, creates an environment where highway deaths are more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban ones.