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kota's rural bridges were rated as structurally deficient, the fourth highest rate in the nation. In 2012, 12 percent of South Dakota's major rural roads were rated in poor condition. The fatality rate on South Dakota's rural roads was 2.21 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the 17th highest rate in the nation and nearly three times higher than the fatality rate of 0.74 on all other roads.
• "Adequate funding for local governments is essential for providing safe infrastructure.  Right now, county governments do not have the finances they need to provide the roads and bridges needed by the agriculture community, local residents or industry," said Delvin Worth, president of the South Dakota County Commissioners Association.
• The report also finds that the development of major new oil and gas fields in numerous areas as well as increased agricultural production are placing significantly increased traffic loads by large trucks on non-Interstate rural roads, which often have not been constructed to carry such high load volumes. The average travel per-lane mile by large trucks on major, non-arterial rural roads in the U.S. has increased by 16 percent from 2000 to 2012.   
• "More than 46 million Americans live in rural and less densely populated areas of the country where their primary mode of transportation is a personal vehicle," stated Kathleen Bower, AAA Vice President, Public Affairs.  "Motorists expect and deserve safe, well maintained roads and bridges no matter if they are traveling on the Interstates or rural roads.  Congress must act quickly to provide a sustainable

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