Are California Toll Roads Safer for Drivers?
Toll roads are routes drivers must pay to use. About 5,932 miles of toll roads exist throughout the country. California is one of 35 states with at least one tolled road or bridge. The Golden State has dozens of toll roads throughout the state, including at landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Paying for the privilege of taking a toll road comes with many perks, including less traffic and getting to your destination faster. One unexpected perk could motivate more drivers to take toll roads: increased safety.
What Do Statistics Say?
Researchers have commented on the safety of toll roads over other roads for the last decade. Studies dating back to 2008 found that toll roads, bridges, and tunnels had much lower fatality rates than U.S. roads overall (0.50 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles vs. 1.47, respectively). Toll road fatality rates were even lower than the safest road type in the U.S. – interstate highways. Thus, the study concluded after extensive surveying that toll roads were as safe or safer than non-toll roads.
More recent publications from IBTTA (International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association) also tout toll roads as statistically safer than non-toll roads in America. Fatalities per 100 million miles traveled were as follows: toll roads .52, toll bridges .27, toll tunnels .14. All non-toll interstates, on the other hand, had an accident rate of 0.55, while rural interstates were at 1.21. Fatality rate for toll facilities overall, .55; for non-toll facilities overall, 1.47
IBTTA supports tolls as safe, efficient, and desirable infrastructure systems with benefits for everyone. Funds collected at tolls are paramount for fueling the country’s highway infrastructure, while the average driver using toll roads benefits from less traffic congestion, more predictable trips, and safer roads.
Take Advantage of California’s Toll Roads
If you aren’t a current toll-road user, it might be time to consider making the switch. The majority of Americans enjoy and support toll roads. Eighty-four percent (84%) of respondents in an IBTTA poll said tolls should be a primary source of transportation revenue. On top of having less traffic and fewer opportunities to collide with other vehicles, toll roads boast other safety perks over standard roads, including:
- Better roadway maintenance. Toll roads are generally better maintained than other roads, as they are newer and see less wear and tear. Better maintenance means fewer accident risks such as potholes and construction vehicles.
- Better pavement. Toll roads are also less apt to develop issues to begin with, thanks to better pavement (according to IBTTA). This can make them safer for drivers.
- Better technology. Toll operators use cutting-edge technology to keep track of road conditions. They receive incentives to keep their toll roads as safe as possible. The use of smart technologies helps optimize toll road safety.
- Better drivability. Since toll roads are less busy than non-toll roads on average, they are still faster even with toll booth stops. Most toll roads in California offer fast no-stop paying options, such as FasTrak, where drivers can pay online instead of cash-based systems.
- Better odds of avoiding car crashes. Eliminating congestion can significantly reduce the odds of accidents such as rear-end collisions and other “fender-benders.” Riding on congested non-toll roads, on the other hand, puts drivers more at risk of collisions.
Toll roads can get you to your destination faster and safer than regular, non-toll roads. Statistics from the past decade have proven this fact more than once. If you want to keep you and your family as safe as possible while driving in California, consider taking toll roads. Driving on a road that’s less busy and in better shape could keep you accident-free. Supporting the state’s toll roads can also contribute to the safety of standard roads, as the funds can go toward roadway maintenance and infrastructure improvements.