Death rates may speed up highway funding

If Congress thinks it can take its time creating a new highway funding plan, it may be forced to think again. A recent report shows America’s rural roads have significant deficiencies and high fatality rates. The report indicates deaths on rural roads are happening at a rate three times higher than all other roads and 15 percent of rural roads are in poor conditions.

Rural Road

Studies also show that 22 percent of rural bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

“As this report makes clear, Washington’s failure to adequately fund repairs to our aging network of roads and bridges is having an even worse impact on our rural roads than the rest of our transportation system,” Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, said.

If there is one thing that can get Congress to sit down and work out a deal, it may be the fact that people are losing their lives due to the lack of road repairs.

“Congress and the Obama administration must work together to address declining Highway Trust Fund revenues and bring all our roads and bridges back to a state of good repair,” added Sandherr.

Sandherr urges people to use the Hardhats for Highways campaign to contact elected officials regarding the necessity of a new Highway Trust Fund. The risks of unsafe highways and bridges cannot be stressed enough.