Rural Road Safety

Rural Road Safety Awareness Week  #RRSAW2024
July 15-19 2024

The National Center for Rural Road Safety (NCRRS) promotes road safety awareness in rural areas during Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW). Several safety themes were highlighted throughout the week, including excessive speeds on rural roads, which are a major problem across the country. Speeding deaths on rural roads account for 38% of all speed-related traffic fatalities in the U.S. That’s over 4,000 deaths a year.

We still want to hear your ideas and concerns about rural road safety in SLO County. 

Schedule for #RRSAW2024

Monday, July 15: Rural Roadway Departures

In the SLO region, 73% of fatal and severe injury crashes on rural roads are a result of roadway departures. We’re working with our SLO regional partners to focus our Road to Zero efforts on bringing awareness to 2024's Rural Road Safety Awareness Week. The Federal Highway Administration defines a roadway departure crash as a crash which occurs after a vehicle crosses an edge line or a center line, or otherwise leaves the traveled way. 

Tell us your thoughts and experiences! We are asking for SLO region community members to help make our local roads safer by taking the Road Safety Survey.

Tuesday, July 16: Speeding

In the SLO region, high speed plays a role in 66% of fatal and severe injury roadway departure crashes on rural roads. 

Let us know where you feel unsafe, had a close call, or even places where you experienced a crash using our interactive map.

Wednesday, July 17: Vulnerable Road Users
(Bicyclists & Pedestrians)

Roughly 25% of nationwide pedestrian and bicycle fatal or severe injury crashes occur on rural roads. In our region, more than 50% of these type of crashes result in a fatal or severe injury outcome. This is largely due to higher car speeds, but irregular road shoulders, distracted driving and visibility issues are also key factors. 

Tell us your experiences with walking and biking in rural traffic! We invite SLO County region community members to help make our local roads safer by taking the Road Safety Survey.

Thursday, July 18: Animal Strikes

Our scenic region has rural roads with sharp curves, rich natural environments and lots of wildlife! In the SLO region, there are over 90 reported animal strikes per year on our rural roadways - with an average of 2 per year resulting in a fatal or severe injury outcome. 

Let us know where you regularly see wild animals crossing! We are asking for SLO region community members to help make our local roads safer by taking the Road Safety Survey.

Friday, July 19: Driver Behavior
(Impaired Driving / Distracted Driving)

In the SLO region, 30% of fatal and severe injury crashes on rural roads involve an impaired driver. Distracted driving is also a known driver behavior associated with rural roadway departure crashes. 

On behalf of SLOCOG, we would like to thank all our SLO County First Responder partners for working together to make our roads safer.