The 2001 US crash data show that there were 22,735 fatal crashes involving 34,165 vehicles and 59,359 individuals, resulting in 25,737 fatalities in rural areas. Urban areas accounted for 15,060 fatal crashes involving 22,290 vehicles and 41,609 individuals resulting in 16,379 fatalities. In 2001, rural fatal crashes accounted for 61% of all traffic fatalities, 39% of the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and 21% of the population. The difference between rural and urban fatalities has increased from 6,954 in 1990 to 8,853 in 2001. The rural (urban) fatality rate has declined from 3.0 (1.5) fatalities per 100 millions of VMT (m VMT) in 1990 to 2.3 (1.0) fatalities per 100 (m VMT) in 2001, a decrease of 23 (33) percent. In 2001, approximately 70% of all fatal crashes on roadways with speed limits of 40 mph or less were in urban areas. Fatal crashes occurring on roadways with speed limits between 45 mph and 50 mph were evenly split. Over 70% of the fatal crashes on roadways of 55 mph or higher occurred in rural areas. Passenger cars had the highest involvement rate for both rural and urban fatal crashes (44% and 52% respectively). Light trucks (pickups, vans and utility vehicles) accounted for 39% of vehicles involved in rural fatal crashes and 32% in urban fatal crashes. There was very little difference between the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of rural and urban drivers involved in fatal crashes. Driver fatalities were the most common fatalities in both rural and urban fatal crashes accounting for 66% and 54% of all crash fatalities in their respective areas.
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