The U.S. has one of the highest fatality rates due to car accidents among comparable countries. The Washington Post suggests this is due to a lack of proper safety measures instituted by lawmakers and used by drivers.
Other similar countries have higher levels of seatbelt use. They also have stricter road laws that make it difficult for drivers to ignore safety requirements.
Seatbelt use
Many U.S. drivers choose not to wear seatbelts when in a vehicle. While many states have laws making seatbelt use a requirement, there are far too many that make it a secondary offense, which means that an officer cannot pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt. He or she must have another primary reason, such as speeding, to pull you over and issue a violation for not wearing your seatbelt.
In states that have primary seatbelt laws, the usage is much higher. This makes a case for lawmakers to look into changing the laws to ensure everyone is wearing their seatbelts.
Drunk driving
Another area where the U.S. falls behind is reducing the number of drunk drivers on the roads. The prevalent blood alcohol content level in the country is 0.08%, which is higher than in comparable countries, which have levels ranging from 0.02% to 0.05%.
Instituting mandatory breath-testing ignition locks could be a solution, and many states have laws regarding them.
Rural roads
Rural roads are another black mark against the U.S. Unfortunately, there is not anything anyone can do to reduce rural roadways or stop drivers from using them. The best solution is to increase awareness of the dangers of these roadways and to encourage you to be more cautious when driving on them.