Florida Ranks Fourth for Worst Drivers in the Nation, Insurance Study Reports
It may come as no surprise to those of us who live, work, and vacation in the Sunshine State -- Florida ranked fourth worst in the nation when it comes to dangerous drivers and auto accident rates. This despite Fla. drivers receiving the most traffic tickets out of all drivers in the country.
The website that released the study stated that it arrived at its rankings by analyzing data from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the American Motorists Association. The company, which compares auto insurance rates, reportedly looked at state data from MADD for alcohol related traffic accidents (drunk driving crashes), NHTSA for traffic fatalities, and the Motorists Association for numbers of traffic tickets handed out to motorists.
The study reported the following U.S. states as the 10 most dangerous to drive in, with our neighbors in Louisiana having the dubious distinction of worst driving in America:
1. Louisiana
2. Missouri
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Oklahoma
6. Arizona
7. Kentucky
8. Montana
9. Alabama
10. South Carolina
The report's rationale for ranking Florida motorists among the nation's most dangerous drivers was as follows:
Florida has at least one thing to be proud of: it’s in the top ten for drunken driving, at number 7. Unfortunately, it sits at the very bottom for tickets, and one away from the bottom slot for carelessness. All that puts it squarely in the bottom four, and makes Florida car insurance in the running for the highest state insurance! (Source: CarInsuranceComparison.com)
As experienced Miami car accident injury attorneys, we know first-hand the hazards of driving in Florida. Our highways, including I-95, are fast, crowded, and often under construction. Encountering drunk drivers on Fla. roadways is always a concern. Driving on congested city streets, including in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and other South Fla. cities -- is always challenging. Tourists and others are at risk for getting struck in pedestrian traffic accidents when crossing busy city streets, particularly at night when the clubs and restaurants are in full swing. Beach driving in Florida (where it's legal) is hazardous, particularly for families with children who are unaccustomed to sharing the beach with motor vehicles driving down the hard-packed sands.
As the report also states, Florida's driving hazards also make us one of the more expensive states for auto insurance. When car accidents with injury occur, it's important to retain an experienced Miami, Fla. car crash injury lawyer, who knows the ins and outs of the auto insurance industry and what is required to make a claim against another party. Other findings from the insurance report…
> Traffic tickets don't seem to deter bad drivers enough to make a dent in accident fatality statistics. (Note: Florida drivers are slapped with the most traffic tickets of anyone, as mentioned earlier.)
> Once you get outside of urban areas (i.e., onto secondary and back roads), driving becomes more dangerous very quickly. This may be due to the fact that urban dwellers use more public transportation.
> Your chances of being in a fatal car crash increase the farther south you drive.
Wherever you drive in Florida, drive defensively.
Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks (May 25, 2011)
Sources:
Which States Have the Worst Drivers?
CarInsuranceComparison.com
Florida drivers ranked fourth-worst in nation, according to car insurance company report
The Miami Herald Nov. 4, 2011
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