The good news: Florida is no longer ranked as the top spot for states with the worst drivers. The bad news: Florida is still ranked number eight in the country when it comes to the worst drivers. Sadly, this may not come as a surprise to many of us who have spent a lot of time on Florida roads.
Florida Ranked #8
According to an annual study by SmartAsset, a personal finance company, Florida is currently ranked eighth in the country for states with the worst drivers. In the 2017 report, Florida occupied the top spot. So, I guess this means that we’re making progress!
The study based its results on variables such as the amount of uninsured drivers, the rates of DUIs, and the fatality rates for people on the road.
Some estimates put the amount of uninsured drivers in Florida as high as 26-27% of the driving population. This means for every 4 cars on the road, 1 of them has no auto insurance. This can be a major problem if you’re unfortunate enough to be in a car accident with an uninsured driver. For more information on how you can protect yourself from uninsured drivers, here’s a blog post I wrote about uninsured motorist coverage.
Florida Fatality Rates
Florida also has a fairly high rate of fatalities on the roads. Recent studies put the fatality rates in Florida at 1.47 fatalities per 100 million miles driven. Nationally, this is a very high number and one of the reasons why Florida ranks at eighth in the study.
The good news is that Florida fatality rates continue to steadily decline. The fatality rate dropped by a third since 1994, when studies reported 2.2 fatalities per million miles driven.
While the technology found in our cars is making us safer and safer, I think that some of the decline is because drivers have a better understanding for their role on the road. Even with more distractions than ever, like cell phones and high-tech dashboards, rates are declining. That’s why educating the public on the importance of defensive driving is so important.
If everyone on the road was just a little more conscientious, maybe we’d see Florida continue to fall down the ranks. Moving down eight places is great, but how much better can we do for 2019?
Contact Brooks Law Group
The numbers don’t lie. Florida roads can be a dangerous place at times. When something goes wrong, it’s important that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, contact a law firm that cares about you. The Brooks Law Group has been serving the state of Florida for over 25 years, and we let our clients speak for themselves. Call our offices at (800) LAW-3030 or fill out the “Contact Us” form on our website today for your free, no obligation case evaluation.
