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Florida Traffic Fatalities Fall To Record Low Last Year
June 15, 2010
The level of a traffic fatalities fell to a new low in Florida during 2009, according to an announcement Monday from the Florida Department of Transportation and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Based on an analysis of vehicle miles traveled in 2009, Florida’s fatality rate dropped to 1.3 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, the lowest rate ever reported in the Sunshine State.
Safety officials pointed to the recent passage of the primary safety belt law, as well as numerous education and awareness campaigns, and the strategic enforcement efforts of law enforcement throughout the state. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which both the number of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate have declined.
“The safety of our residents and visitors is a top priority, and reducing fatalities on our roadways is a step in the right direction,” said Florida Governor Charlie Crist. “I commend our safety advocates and law enforcement officers who ensure that Florida remains a safe place to work and play.”
FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos and DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones also noted the positive effect of educational campaigns such as those targeting motorcycle safety and teen drivers, as well as law enforcement’s strategic approach to enforcing DUI and other traffic laws.
Comments
3 Responses to “Florida Traffic Fatalities Fall To Record Low Last Year”
Florida has adopted a large enforcement program from the Alabama State Troopers called “Take Back our Highway’s”. This has drastically reduced fatal wrecks and wrecks with injuries consistently for the past three years in Alabama. After seeing these results from Alabama; Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee have followed suit and have noticed the same numbers. It is clear that when drivers are held more responsible and to a higher standard, they tend to drive more safely. Thank you to FHP and other agencies that have participated in the campaign but most importantly thank you to the Alabama State Troopers for caring enough to make a difference.
B-b-but… texting….. talking on cell phones…. dangerous….. more wrecks…. all that stuff…. what’s up??? So our roads are the safest they’ve ever been? Cool!
Darryl, FATALITIES PER MILE DRIVEN is down…. that’s a percentage rate…. I can see that the overall number of fatalities would be directly related to the amount of miles driven, but the percentage rate should remain fairly consistent.
So I believe that getting the overall percentage rate of fatal wrecks per miles driven to come down is a good thing……
This is a mix of bad and good news; good news the numbers are down, but historically, this is always a factor of miles driven during the year. No matter what officials state, the actual miles driven is the most important factor, for it is all about exposure. The bad angle is this means the tourism industry has suffered with less traffic.
Also note the raising of the speed limit to a prudent level hasn’t resulted, as the IIHS predicted, carnage on the highways.