Green Country Rural Roads Pose Danger To Drivers

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A new report claims Green Country rural drivers have one of the bumpiest rides in the nation. And it claims those rural roads are some of the most dangerous in the state.

Some drivers say compared to the city streets pockmarked with potholes, these country roads are a smooth ride.

"I'm from Tulsa and Tulsa has the worst roads on the planet," said Trisha Eagle, a resident living in Tulsa. "They're not nearly as bad. There are some big gutters here and there, but it's not like Tulsa."

But it's the county roads and country highways that are under the microscope in a new report by TRIP, a nonprofit organization that tracks transportation issues.

Oklahoma has long topped the nation's list of worst bridges. But this new report says Oklahoma's country roads are just as bad. With one in three in poor condition, that's the third worst in the country.

The report also says the twists and turns on two-lane rural highways are also a danger zone, logging 444 deadly accidents, that's 60 percent of all total traffic deaths.

It claims the fatality rate on non-interstate roads is nearly three times higher than on all other roads.

"Yes, yes they are. And there's no lighting, so at night it's really dangerous," Felicia Lincoln said.

This driver admits there are problems, but she still would rather take the roads less traveled.

"They are, but they're old roads and there are not that many people here. If they were in Tulsa, they'd probably widen them and then ignore them for 20 years," Eagle said.