The Deadliest Highway Stretches in Florida
Gregg Hollander | August 3, 2023 | Car Accidents
Florida is home to numerous noteworthy distinctions, from being home to the oldest inhabited city in the United States to serving as the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, it also sees more traffic accidents than many other states in the country.
There are approximately 400,000 traffic crashes annually in Florida, with approximately 3,000 of those wrecks resulting in at least one fatality. Overall, in 2021 3,741 people died in traffic crashes in the state.
A serious or fatal motor vehicle accident can happen anywhere in Florida, even on low-traffic residential roads. However, with their higher speed limits and greater traffic congestion, highways are a frequent location where accidents occur. And in Florida, some highways see more than their fair share of traffic wrecks.
Four Dangerous Highways in Florida
A vital statistic that points to how dangerous a highway is in Florida is the number of fatalities per a certain specific number of miles traveled on that road in a given year by all vehicles. Another important ratio is the average number of fatalities per mile of roadway. The higher either number is, the more fatal wrecks that occur on that specific highway.
No matter what metric you use, however, four highways are consistently identified as some of the most dangerous roads in Florida — and perhaps nationwide. These highways include:
1. Interstate 4
Interstate 4 runs east-west across Florida, from Tampa to Daytona Beach, and is considered one of the deadliest highways in the country. This stretch of road averages 1.134 fatalities per mile, according to data from Teletrac Navman. Between 2016 and 2019 alone, 150 people died in traffic crashes on this highway.
2. Interstate 95
Challenging I-4 as one of the country’s most dangerous highways, a single-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale has been labeled the “deadliest mile” in the U.S. The portion of highway in question runs between I-595 and State Road 84.
Between 2000 and 2019, there were 23 car wrecks that killed 24 people. Its death-per-100 miles ratio is 14.88, according to The Zebra.
3. Interstate 75
Also running north-south in Florida, Interstate 75 saw 237 wrecks in total along its length from Florida to Michigan in 2019. The Zebra reports I-75’s death-per-100-miles rate as 13.27.
Although the highway spans several states, it services several Florida cities like Tampa, located in Hillsborough County. The Zebra recognized this county as having 15 traffic fatalities per 100,000 population, a ratio that was the highest in the nation.
4. US Highway 1
US Route 1 also runs north-south from Maine to Florida and notably serves Miami-Dade County. A recent study by MoneyGeek, which analyzed traffic crash data from 2018 to 2020, identified Miami-Dade County as having more traffic fatalities than any other county, with US Highway 1 as the deadliest road within the county.
Staying Safe on Dangerous Highways in Florida
Although these highways may be dangerous, you may not be able to avoid traveling on them. If you do find yourself needing to use one of these roadways, pay extra attention to your surroundings and practice safe driving techniques.
This means putting away your cell phone and minimizing distractions while you drive. Make sure not to speed or engage in other aggressive or reckless driving behaviors as well, as these can raise the risk of a fatal crash. Exercising additional caution when driving on these or any other highways can help ensure you reach your destination safely.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Law Firm in South Florida
If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
We proudly serve Palm Beach County, Broward County, and its surrounding areas:
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Boca Raton Law Office
7000 W Palmetto Park Rd #500
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(561) 347-7770
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Fort Lauderdale Law Office
200 S.E. 6th Street #203
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 287-0566
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – West Palm Beach Law Office
319 Clematis St #203
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 556-7873