Driving in Fort Lauderdale may be one of the scariest things most of us do. And you might be a little more frightened if you saw some of the latest car accident statistics. According to a recent study from the government the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area was ranked one of the most dangerous places in the entire country to drive. It’s not getting any better either. According to CNN, the risks for car accidents are only getting worse as the first quarter of 2012 saw accident rates nearly 15 percent higher than in 2011.
Officials may have been working diligently on safe driving campaigns and increased enforcement efforts, but they don’t seem to be working as well as some hoped. Many people believe that the cause of this significant increase is merely a side effect of the increase in vehicle miles traveled. Experts say that the increase in travel is a direct result of the warm weather we’ve seen throughout the country in recent months. Motorists are more likely to travel when it’s warm out as opposed to when there’s cold and snowy conditions.
Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that the state of Florida isn’t even in its busy travel season, meaning that these risks are only going to get worse. As we head through the rest of 2012, we can expect to start seeing more traffic on our roadways as tourists and seasonal residents pour in. Defensive driving habits can help to keep you safe and out of danger.
During January through April of 2012, nearly 8,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents across the nation. The nearly 15 percent compares to about 6,720 fatalities during the same time in 2011.
Last year, transportation officials were proud to report a downward trend in the number of fatal accidents. It’s actually been a downward trend lasting a few years, but not anymore. The first-quarter fatalities had dropped each year from 2006, until 2012.
It’s only expected to get worse. Typically, the first quarter of each year is the safest of all. Accident rates traditionally increase as the year progresses, serving as an intense warning for drivers nationwide.
“These data show there is more work to be done to improve driver safety such as limiting distractions, reducing impaired driving and promoting a culture of safety among motorists,” said Jacob Nelson with the Automobile Association of America.
As a matter of fact, this new statistic serves as the largest increase since these stats were first recorded more than 30 years ago.
Call Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez at 1-800-561-7777 for a free consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Keeping an Eye on Elderly Drivers to Help Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, July 24, 2012
Rental Car Flips into Canal, Two Men Lucky to Escape, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, July 17, 2012