Did you know that there were over 400,000 pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, and auto crashes in Florida in 2021? In those automobile collisions, 3,707 people died and 252,562 people were injured.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles keeps track of crashes throughout the state to make sure it knows how the statistics are changing over time. For example, while over 400,000 crashes happened in Florida in 2021, only a little over 341,000 occurred in 2020. In 2022, there have already been 57,072 as of March 3.
The importance of these pieces of data can’t be overstated. Knowing if there is an uptick in collisions allows the state and residents to respond in kind. For example, if you know that the total number of motorcycle crashes has increased, you can focus on improving your own riding skills, making yourself more visible and educating others about riding safely. The state can also place a focus on rider and driver education.
Florida’s crash levels have remained relatively stable
Looking at data between 2018 and 2021, the number of crashes each year hovers around 400,000 with a small decrease annually except for 2020, which was an outlier. That year, quarantines and travel limitations minimized traffic in Florida and greatly decreased the overall number of crashes.
What is interesting to see is that though the overall number of crashes seems to be on the decline, the total number of fatalities has not dropped. Instead, the total number of fatalities has actually increased slightly. That means that the crashes that are happening are likely to be more serious.
What can you do to stay safer in Florida?
If you have to drive in Florida, there are a few things you can do to stay safer. The first is to plan your route in advance. Avoiding the I-4 or other dangerous areas could minimize your risk of getting into a crash, for example.
You could also consider taking a defensive driving course, slowing down when traveling and planning for delays to avoid speeding to make up time.
Crash safety is a must when you’re on the road. If you’re hit by another driver, remember that you can call for assistance and should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
