AAA Carolinas released its annual report of the most dangerous roads in North Carolina, and it found that rural counties had the most fatal crashes, calling those places “killing grounds” for automobile accidents.
The annual report is based on a comparison of miles driven and the number of deadly North Carolina car accidents that occur. The report also provides results for the types of vehicles driven, including motorcycles and tractor trailers.
Clay County was determined to be the most dangerous for fatal crashes. Rounding out the top five were Graham, Hyde, Robeson and Hertford counties.
Those five counties accounted for 5.4 percent of the state’s total fatal crashes, yet only accounted for 2 percent of the miles driven in the state.
Drivers in Graham County were determined to have the highest risk of being in an injurious crash. Rounding out the top five were New Hanover, Pitt, Wayne and Cumberland counties.
“Rural counties have roads that are generally narrower, with more curves, lower shoulders, faded or nonexistent road markings and less police presence than major highways,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “These roads are notorious for single-vehicle accidents involving speeding, drinking and younger drivers.”
Officials with the N.C. Highway Patrol said they were trying to increase patrols in areas known to be problematic and were working with the N.C. Department of Transportation to improve roads and lower speed limits in those areas.
This is the third straight year that rural counties have topped the list for having the most dangerous roads. However, the news was not all bad for rural counties: Some also topped the list for safest counties.
Swain County was determined to be the safest for total number of crashes and number of injurious crashes, and Yancey County was considered safest for fatal crashes.
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