Florida’s Deadliest Highway With The Most Fatalities
Florida, a popular tourist destination with lots of attractions, and where we call home, also has some of the most dangerous roadways in the country. According to a report by the fleet management company Geotab, U.S. 1 is Florida’s deadliest highway, with an average of 108 fatalities each year between 2016 and 2019. This sobering statistic places it behind just California’s Interstate 5 as the second-deadliest route in the country. Florida’s deadliest highway
Along Florida’s eastern coast, U.S. 1 runs north-south, going through important towns like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville. It becomes the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys, connecting numerous islands via bridges and causeways. It covers a distance of around 545 miles throughout the state and typically has a 55 mph speed limit in most places.
Why so dangerous?
1. Heavy Traffic: With millions of commuters, tourists, and business vehicles passing through each year, U.S. 1 is one of Florida’s busiest highways. Collisions are more likely due to the sheer volume of traffic, especially during rush hours and holiday periods.
2. Distracted Driving: Florida faces a serious problem with distracted driving, which is a major factor in deadly accidents in the state. 2,747 fatal accidents involving distracted drivers were reported by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) between 2018 and 2020. Distractions include any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the road, including texting, making phone calls, eating, grooming, and eating.
3. Drunk drivers: Drunk driving is a major factor in deadly accidents on Florida’s U.S. 1 and other highways. From 2018 to 2020, there were 2,125 fatal crashes involving drunk drivers, according to the FHSMV. Alcohol affects judgment, coordination, and reaction time, which increases the risk of losing control or running into other objects or moving cars.
4. Speeding: a widespread habit among drivers on U.S. 1, particularly on lengthy stretches between cities and islands. Excessive speed limits a driver’s ability to react quickly to risks and increases the severity of harm in collisions. From 2018 to 2020, the FHSMV reported 1,057 fatal crashes involving speeding drivers.
5. Weather: Florida’s weather can be difficult for U.S. 1 drivers, particularly during hurricane season or on wet days. Fog, severe winds, and rain limit vision, traction, and road stability, making it more difficult to see possible hazards and respond to them.
Although U.S. 1 is known as Florida’s most dangerous road, other routes can potentially be dangerous for drivers. There have been 278 fatalities on Interstate 10, 204 on Interstate 95, 199 on U.S. 27 and 165 on U.S. 441 among others.
