Miami or Ft. Lauderdale: Which Is More Dangerous for Drivers?

Anyone who lives on the Gold Coast knows that Ft. Lauderdale and Miami each have their fair share of problems for motorists. Traffic, speeding, uninsured drivers, tourists making last-minute decisions… the list goes on.

We thought it might be interesting, though, to see which of these two giant cities is actually the most dangerous for Florida drivers. The answer might surprise you.

Ft. Lauderdale vs. Miami: The Dangerous Driver Debate

Miami may have twice as many people, but as it turns out, Ft. Lauderdale is actually the more treacherous municipality for motorists. As a matter of fact, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ft. Lauderdale is the most dangerous city for driving in all of America!

The study focused primarily on traffic fatality rates. Fort Lauderdale sees 22.39 deaths for every 100,000 people involved in an auto accident. That’s the highest car crash death rate in the United States.

Meanwhile, Miami didn’t make the Top 15 at all. Three other Florida cities did, though, as follows:

• Orlando (#2; Death Rate: 19.95)
• Jacksonville (#11, Death Rate: 14.36)
• St. Petersburg (#12, 14.27)

So why do so many Florida cities fare so poorly in a nationwide comparison? In analyzing the data, CNBC identified a few key factors that make Ft. Lauderdale especially dangerous:

• High rate of New Yorkers moving to South Florida and learning to drive for the first time (seriously)
• International visitors who may be unfamiliar with the rules of the road
• Tourists driving in unfamiliar territory
• Spring Breakers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Both Dangerous for Pedestrians, Though

In the Ft. Lauderdale vs. Miami debate, the latter may earn a better score for drivers, but both cities get a giant F where pedestrians are concerned.

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro ranks as the 4^th deadliest area for pedestrians in the United States. Strikingly, the entire top four can be found in Florida (#1 Orlando-Kissimmee, #2 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, #3 Jacksonville).

As car accident attorneys, we know first hand just how tragically common vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist deaths are in our communities. Most of these accidents are entirely preventable, so the prevalence of unnecessary death in the Florida area is utterly heartbreaking.

It’s our hope that Floridians will inspire themselves toward safer driving habits once they realize how poorly they rank nationwide. Let your friends and neighbors know. Share this article and add your own traffic experiences in the comments section below. We want to hear from you.