Final answer:
Rural highways often have higher rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes than urban roadways, despite lower traffic volumes, due to factors like higher speeds and limited emergency response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing traffic deaths on rural highways and urban roadways reveals distinct patterns. Rural highways have typically been found to have a higher rate of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes despite having lower traffic volumes. This could relate to factors like higher speeds, longer emergency response times, and less lighting. Urban roadways, while experiencing higher traffic volumes and more congestion, may have lower severe accident rates due to lower travel speeds, greater roadway lighting, and quicker access to emergency services.
Research on transportation planning and road improvements can provide insight into how to reduce these fatalities. A 1985 Texas A&M study, for instance, utilized a Speed-choice model to assess the benefits of highway improvements in preventing accidents. Studies often evaluate patterns of roadway use, chances of accidents, and the costs and benefits of interventions. The integration of such research into planning may lead to more informed decisions about where to allocate resources for road upgrades or new infrastructure projects.