Florida doesn’t have the greatest reputation for safe drivers. In 2015, more pedestrians died from accidents involving cars than any other year on record. However, there has been a nationwide decline in car accidents since 2006.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that “the Nation lost 32,675 people in crashes on roadways during 2014, down from 32,894 in 2013. The estimated number of people injured on the Nation’s roads increased in 2014, rising from 2.31 to 2.34 million injured people.”
Of the 32,675 people who died, 2,494 fatalities were in Florida alone.
Florida has been under scrutiny because it ranked third for number of fatal crashes in 2013 and second in fatalities due to speeding on local roads. The last report released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) showed a 12.65% increase in the number of accidents in 2013 compared to 2012.
Of the 316,943 accidents that occurred in 2013 in Florida, 36,179 involved teenage drivers, 6,969 involved bicycles and 9,682 involved motorcycles.
Among the motorcycle accidents, 462 fatalities were reported. Based on that number, Florida is the leading state for motorcycle accident fatalities.
FLHSMV conducts these reports each year in hopes of analyzing data and finding trends in order to educate Floridians on public road safety and point to specific areas that need improvement. They are working to make roads safer for drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, but they still have a long road ahead.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, contact an expert Tampa car accident attorney at Lorenzo & Lorenzo for a free consultation today.
