Worst Highways in Florida
With a population of 21.28 million, Florida’s highways have always been hard to manage. Among that, Florida is a leading destination in tourism, bringing many more cars onto the highway. While Florida may have some of the most congested highways in America, it also has some of the deadliest. Car accidents can happen anywhere at any time, but some roads in Florida produce more due to things like construction, congestion, distracted, and high-speed drivers.
Top Five Dangerous Highways
I-10: I-10 is the fourth-longest highway in the country, running 2,460 miles through eight states. The reason for most accidents on this interstate is the lack of barriers; this leads to many crossover crashes.
I-95: Running along the Atlantic coast for 1,040 miles of its 1,926 stretch through 15 states, this highway is incredibly congested for approximately 60% of its length. It can contain up to 300,000 vehicles daily. The stretch from Miami-Dade through Broward counties is considered particularly dangerous, with 1.73 fatal accidents per mile.
1-4: Known as the “Haunted Highway” to Floridians, I-4 is the busiest interstate in the entire country. The story goes that this interstate is haunted by graves buried underneath a stretch of the highway. However, the highway is really haunted by the constant construction surrounding it.
I-75: According to the DOT, the accident rate on I-75 crossing through Alachua County is 90% higher than the statewide average for similar roads. Even worse, the number of vehicle wrecks jumped from 935 in 2011 to 1,538 in 2015 and is still increasing today.
US-1: U.S. 1 runs through Central Florida along the east coast, stretching 545 miles through 13 counties. Geotab, a vehicular data management company, gave U.S. 1 a fatal crash rate of 2.8, which is the highest of any roads in the country.
Along with having some of the most dangerous highways in the country, Florida is also the number-one state for distracted driving. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2016, more than 50,000 accidents and 233 deaths were caused by distracted drivers in Florida. A 2017 survey placed Florida as the second-worst state in the nation in terms of distracted driving. Texting, checking emails, updating social media accounts, and answering a call are all extremely dangerous behaviors while driving. Remember to mind your surroundings, drive defensively, and always keep your eyes on the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests regular maintenance on the following to make sure your vehicle is in top condition: tires, headlights, brakes, belts, fluid levels, and hoses.
If you are a driver in Florida, it is important that you are aware of which highways are most dangerous and where most accidents happen, as well as what you can do to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Call Path at 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, Call Path at 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.