Florida Traffic Laws Ranked Middle of the Road in U.S. Driving Safety and Accident Prevention Study
South Florida is known for its world-famous beaches, exciting vacation destinations, year-round temperate climates, and culturally diverse cities. Unfortunately, Florida has also made a name for itself as one of the most hazardous states in the country when it comes to driving and pedestrian safety.
Last year a number of Florida cities were named among the most dangerous places for pedestrian traffic accidents. What's more, the Sunshine State was ranked the fourth most dangerous state in the country when it comes to motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities. (See related Florida Injury Attorney article, below.) Now a new study looking at 15 basic traffic safety laws in the U.S. has given Florida fair marks, while identifying areas that need improvement.
The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety released a report titled the 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws. The organization identified 15 basic traffic safety laws, which they believe all states should have in place to reduce the number of motor vehicle accident injuries and deaths.
These include state laws regulating safety measures and equipment such as motorcycle helmets, seat belt use, text messaging while driving, impaired driving (laws targeting drunk drivers, including use of ignition interlock devices for offenders), Graduated Driver Licensing (for younger, inexperienced drivers -- who present a serious safety hazard for themselves, their passengers and other motorists), child booster seats, and other traffic safety and accident prevention related areas.
Florida was among states that received a ranking of "yellow," meaning "cautious." Those states ranked yellow have 6 to 10 of the key traffic laws on the books, with a primary seat belt law, OR 7 to 13 laws without a primary seat belt law. Other states were ranked "red" ("danger" -- state falling behind in traffic safety) or "green" ("good") depending on the number of traffic safety laws they had or did not have on their books. NO states met ALL of the Advocates' requirements for recommended traffic safety laws.
The Advocates pointed out a number of areas where Florida traffic safety laws could be strengthened and improved, including the adoption of…
- All-rider Motorcycle Helmet Law (to protect from head and brain injury in Fla. motorcycle crashes)
- Several restrictions to the Florida Graduated Drivers Licensing program
- Booster Seat Law
- Ignition Interlock Law
- Ban on Texting while Driving in Florida
Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers know too well from their work with grieving families and injured individuals about the dangers of driving in Florida -- from highways such as I-95 to city streets to back roads, over bridges, on beaches, and along canals. Lives are changed forever, in an instant, when a serious auto accident in South Florida occurs. It will be interesting to see if Florida lawmakers improve on any of the state's existing traffic laws this year.
Related Florida Injury Attorney article:
Which South Florida Cities Made Worst Driver and Pedestrian Traffic Accident Lists for 2011? (Jan. 4, 2012)
Sources:
2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety: Press Kit (PDF)
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Florida
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Jan. 11, 2012
Related Web Resource:
The 2011 Florida Statutes:
TITLE XXIII, MOTOR VEHICLES, CHAPTER 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
