In Broward County, there were over 30,000 car crashes in 2022. Nearly 200 of them were fatal.
Why are there so many car accidents in Florida? Here are several factors that affect these troubling statistics
1. Speeding
In Florida, speeding is often more commonplace than obeying posted speed limits. Speeding drastically reduces reaction time, leading to numerous pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist and driver fatalities every year.
2. Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a significant problem on Florida’s roads. Anything can serve as a distraction, including eating, texting, emailing and video calling, to name a few. Statewide in 2021, 344 people died in crashes involving distracted driving.
3. Reckless behavior
In many cases, Florida car accidents have nothing to do with distractions and everything to do with reckless behavior. The mindset of many Florida drivers pays little regard to other people on the road, leading to scary scenarios playing out on the road.
4. Impaired driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only illegal, but it is also dangerous. Thousands of drug- and alcohol-related crashes occur in the state each year, and a high percentage of them are fatal.
5. Weather conditions
Florida is notorious for its heavy pop-up showers and thunderstorms. These conditions, often coupled with the other factors listed above, can impact drivers’ abilities to see and operate their vehicles safely, leading to accidents.
These and many other factors contribute to the vast number of car crashes in Florida, leaving significant room for improvement across the state.