Rural safety

Of the 648 crash fatalities in Arkansas in 2005, 527 of them (81%) occurred on rural roads. Only eight states had a higher percentage of rural crash fatalities that year. Texas had the highest number of fatalities on rural roads in 2005 (1,974). Careful out there on this upcoming holiday week. Here's the University of Minnesota study using data from the National Traffic Safety Administration.

In an effort to curb crash fatalities in Virginia (and to raise money for road projects without raising taxes), that state is now the home of the $3,000 traffic ticket. USA Today reports that the penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,311 (includes court costs) beginning Sunday. A first-time DWI will cost $2,750 and driving without a license is $1,000. Virginia's new traffic penalties are expected to raise $65 million a year, and they only apply to in-state drivers, as the The state legislature didn't think it could enforce the extra penalties in other states.