Roadside Safety

Percent Fixed Object Fatalities by Object Struck, 2019

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute

In a typical year, about 60 percent of motor vehicle deaths involve vehicles leaving the roadway and hitting fixed objects such as trees or utility poles. A "forgiving roadside" reduces the consequences of this type of crash. Removing obstructions and providing a stable and recoverable side-slope will make the roadside more forgiving.