Rural Driving: Road Conditions
- Traction on gravel or dirt is worse than on a paved road, and when weather conditions are wet, the traction declines even further.
- Rural roads often lack the overhead lighting common in cities.
- Streetlights, if present at all, typically don’t extend beyond a rural community’s main streets.
Road Conditions: Strategies for Reducing Risk
- If you drive on an unpaved road, take turns and curves even more slowly than you would on a paved road.
- Remember that stopping distances will be increased when driving on muddy roads or gravel roads.
- If overhead illumination is not present at night, do not pass cars on a two-lane road.
- Passing when visibility is limited could result in a crash.
- Steep hills and no overhead lighting add to the level of risk for drivers who travel on this stretch of rural road at night.
