Top 4 Deadliest Highways in Florida
Driving in Florida can be dangerous, especially around the holidays. With more than thousands of miles of roads and highways, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed while navigating—especially since several high-speed Florida roadways have been deemed some of the most dangerous in the country.
In this blog, we’ll review four of the most dangerous roads in Florida according to data pulled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System. We hope this information gives you a better reason to be a cautious and safe driver this holiday season.
I-95
I-95 is considered the deadliest highway in both Florida and the United States. As the main interstate highway of Florida’s Atlantic Coast, it passes through Dade, Broward, Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, through cities including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Port St. Lucie. Tragically, according to statistics from 2019, there were over 280 fatalities and 14.88 fatalities per 100 miles of roadway, making it one of the top four deadliest highways in Florida.
U.S. 1
U.S. Highway 1 runs 545 miles along the eastern shore from Key West to Georgia. According to a study from vehicular data management company, Geotab, the Florida section of U.S.1 is at the top of the list of Florida’s most dangerous highways. Sadly, over the span of a decade, the highway claimed over 1,000 lives.
I-75
I-75 is another deadly highway that stretches from Miami westward across Alligator Alley, resuming northward in Naples, along the Gulf Coast and north through Tampa, before turning inward toward Ocala, Gainesville and Lake City before leaving the State and stretching all the way to Michigan. During 2019, 237 fatalities occurred, resulting in 12.27 fatalities per 100 miles, many of which were attributable to large tractor trailer crashes.
U.S. 41
Also ranked 10 in the nation is Highway U.S. 41. This highway stretches over 2000 miles from Miami, Florida, to Copper Harbor, Michigan. US 41 is paralleled by Interstate 75, another top dangerous roadway. A stretch of highway that is frequented by motorcyclists, in 2019 there were 141 traffic fatalities—or approximately, 7.02 fatalities per 100 miles.
Factors Playing a Role In Highway Crashes
Many factors are thought to play a role in these fatal motor vehicle crashes including:
- Drunk or Impaired Driving
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving; and
- Failure to Wear Safety Belts and/or Use Car Seats
Also, the sheer amount of traffic, roadway conditions and/or construction, as well as travel by commercial motor vehicles and tractor trailers are also thought to be factors that make these highways and roadways more dangerous.
Stay Safe Out There!
Statistics show that these four highways are among some of the deadliest highways in Florida; however, that doesn’t mean you should avoid them entirely. Instead, you can minimize your risk while traveling on these roads by following safety guidelines, such as always wearing your seatbelt, avoiding distracted driving, like cell phone use and obeying all traffic laws. Also, never drive while impaired.
If you find yourself or a loved one in an unexpected motor vehicle accident this holiday season, our dedicated legal team is here to relieve some of the burdens and assist with your legal needs. Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers today. With offices in Palm Beach Gardens and Port St. Lucie , HELP is just a call away.
Call us at (561) 500-4357 or fill out a consultation request form online.
