Florida’s Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

10 Deadliest Road Stretches in Florida

Drunk Driving Involved in 21% of Fatal Accidents

Of the 8,792 total fatal crashes in Florida between 2017 to 2019, 1,888 were connected to drunk driving.

Drunk driving was involved in 21% of the state’s fatal accidents, outnumbering those involving both speeding and distracted driving combined.

Having alcohol in your blood can severely affect your behavior behind the wheel and endangers yourself and others. You can be visibly impaired, even if your blood alcohol concentration is only 0.2%. If it reaches 0.8%, the state of Florida officially considers you legally intoxicated.

The costs of drunk driving are numerous, even when it doesn’t involve a fatal accident. A DUI charge can result in less affordable car insurance in Florida, restricted driving privileges and even possible jail time. You need to carry FR-44 insurance in Florida if you have a DUI, which is more expensive than other types of coverage.

Speeding Is a Factor in 9% of Fatal Crashes

Speeding-related crashes made up 9% of fatal accidents in Florida. That translates to 829 crashes between 2017 and 2019.

There are multiple consequences of driving above the allowable speed limit in Florida. These include increased difficulty in making quick stops, often leading drivers to lose control of their cars. It results in a high likelihood of severe injuries or even fatal car accidents.

Distracted Driving Contributed to 8% of Fatal Accidents

Distracted driving contributed 662 to the total fatal car crashes in Florida from 2017 to 2019. To lower these numbers, Florida enacted a hands-free law in 2019. Law enforcement officers started apprehending and issuing citations to drivers caught texting while behind the wheel on January 1, 2020.

March Had More Fatal Accidents Than Any Other Month

In the three years studied, March had the highest number of fatal accidents. There were 846 crashes in that state recorded that month resulting in fatalities — that’s 9.7% of Florida’s fatal crashes. Florida is a popular vacation spot, leading to people traveling there in March during Spring Break. Having more cars on the road typically leads to higher numbers of accidents.

December had the second-most deadly crashes (9.5%), followed by January (8.6%).

Average Fatal Accidents by Month

Driving Safely Protects You, Others and Your Wallet

Being a safe driver comes with multiple benefits. Aside from making Florida’s roadways safer, you also ensure fewer expenses in the long term. But sometimes accidents happen, regardless of how many precautions you take.

This reality makes having insurance essential. An affordable full coverage car insurance policy can protect you, your car and your family against possible costs of damages if such an unfortunate event occurs.

The average cost of car insurance in Florida is $2,208 per year, but your premium is subject to change depending on where you live. For instance, car insurance in Hialeah costs an annual average rate of $2,812. In comparison, auto insurance in Tallahassee is $1,331 less — a policy in that city with similar coverages only costs $1,481 annually. Meanwhile, car insurance coverage in Jacksonville — Florida’s most populous city — is $1,739 per year, on average.

Car insurance companies use a variety of factors to set premiums. These include your age, driving history and credit standing. The best way to find cheap car insurance in Florida is to gather and compare quotes from multiple carriers.

Fatal Accidents and Most Dangerous Roads: County Breakdown

From 2017 to 2019, the five counties with the highest numbers of deadly crashes made up one-third of all accidents resulting in deaths in Florida. That’s 3,010 accidents recorded from the three most recent years of available data.

Among Florida's 67 counties, Miami-Dade contributed the most fatal crashes, with 876 accidents. Most of these occurred along US-1 and involved speeding and drunk driving.

Fatal Accidents and Contributing Factors By County

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS (fatal accident reporting system) database using fatality data from 2017, 2018 and 2019. Currently, 2019 is the latest data available in the system.