Florida Ranks 4th in Country for Worst Drivers

On Behalf of | Aug 15, 2019 | Car Accidents

Florida drivers have moved
up on the list for worst drivers. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, it’s in the wrong direction.

A recent study by
SmartAsset, ranked Florida drivers as fourth-worst in the U.S. In truth, the
Sunshine State tied for the same position with Texas and Nevada. The last study
compiled ranked Florida as the eighth-worst state for drivers overall.

Key Takeaways from the Study

SmartAsset uses four areas
of competency to file and rank states in terms of how well their drivers fare
on the road. The metrics used include per capita number of DUI arrests, motor
vehicle fatalities, number of traffic violations, and number of speeding
tickets. It also takes into consideration the number of insured drivers.

The study cites that
roughly 73 percent of Florida drivers possess the required mandated insurance.
This number is the lowest in the country.
Never mind the fact that “mandated” insurance does not require Bodily
injury liability under Florida law.   DUI
arrests rank eighth lowest, placing the state in the top ten.

Here’s where things take a dark turn. According to
the study, there are 1.47 fatalities per 100 million miles driven. This number
places Florida in the top ten ranks of most deadly states through which to
drive.

Southern States Have a Reputation for Bad Drivers

The study also cites that
southern states carry the least favorable impression on their residents’ ability to drive safely
and obey laws. Five of the top ten states for worst driving fall under the
southern region of the U.S.

In short, driving through
Florida is a dangerous feat. Texting while driving is the leading cause of
motor vehicle-related fatalities. Even gas prices and the economy play a role.
More people driving on public roadways respectively increases the tally
regarding accidents and traffic tickets by virtue of statistical data.

Top 10 States with the Worst Drivers on the Road

Either way, commuting in a
motor vehicle is a necessity for most of the population. Let’s see how Florida stacks
up against the rest of the top ten states with the worst drivers on the road.

  • Mississippi
  • Alabama
  • California
  • Florida
  • Nevada
    (tied 4th place)
  • Texas
    (tied 4th place)
  • Arizona
  • Alaska
  • Tennessee
    (tied 8th place)
  • Missouri

As you can see, there are
plenty of drivable states that made the list. However, let’s consider how Florida’s cities stack up against themselves regarding
driving ability and safety.

Best and Worst Places to Drive in Florida

Another study compiled by QuoteWizard ranks fifty of Florida’s largest cities to consider safety and
drivability. In addition to the same metrics mentioned in the previous section,
the study analyzed data from more than 400,000 online insurance quotes to rank
cities.

Here are the results:

Worst Cities to Drive in Florida

  • Jacksonville
  • Tallahassee
  • Clearwater
  • Cape
    Coral
  • Gainesville
  • Plantation
  • St.
    Petersburg
  • Pine
    Hills
  • Fort
    Myers
  • Deerfield Beach

Jacksonville was the leader
among worse drivers. The study attributes their findings to the number of
traffic fatalities. There are current 16.10 fatalities involving motor vehicles
per 100,000 drivers. Florida’s state average is 14.83.

Best Cities to Drive in Florida

  • Pembroke
    Pines
  • Daytona
    Beach
  • Miami
    Beach
  • The
    Villages
  • Poinciana
  • Lauderhill
  • Weston
  • Kissimmee
  • Pompano
    Beach
  • Delray Beach

QuoteWizard further posits
that you are more likely to experience better drivers on the roadway as you
head further south. In a shocking statistic, Broward County carries a traffic
fatality rate of 11.62 fatalities per 100,000 people. That’s 21.6 percent fewer fatality incidents when
compared to the rest of the state.

Key Takeaways from Both Studies

The state of Florida keeps
moving down the ranks of worst drivers but not for the better. Over the last
few years, a recent study downgrades the Sunshine State from eighth-worst to
fourth worst. Let’s avoid taking over the number one spot, fellow Floridians.

SmartAsset’s study considered DUI
numbers, traffic fatalities, traffic citations, and percentage of insured
drivers. On a positive note, Florida’s DUI arrests are among the lowest in the
nation while traffic fatalities are some of the highest.

Just like in life, there
are no absolutes when it comes to labeling an entire state. Each city within
has its own merit. The worst city in which to drive is Jacksonville while
Pembroke Pines is the best. The further south you drive into Florida, the
better experience you have with other drivers.

About Kaire Heffernan, LLC

Kaire Heffernan, LLC is a personal injury law firm that serves residents of Miami-Dade County and surrounding areas. Since 1997, our Florida personal injuries have helped injured people receive the compensation they deserve on valid claims. If you have been injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle, you can schedule a free consultation by calling 305-376-7860.

Mark Kaire has been practicing law in Miami for nearly 15 years. He is dedicated to helping the injured people of Miami receive compensation. Mr. Kaire has been blogging on Miami’s legal issues for 4 years.