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How Safe are Florida's Interstates?
What are the Dangers of Interstate Truck
Accidents?
The state of Florida has one of the of the more extensive systems
of interstates in the country and therefore a greater chance for
truck accidents to take place along its highways.
I-75, I-4, and I-95 all have developed a reputation for being the
sites of several of the most deadliest Truck collisions in the
state of Florida. They also maintain a well known reputation for
their frequency of car accidents in general.
The Danger of Florida Interstates
Florida has become a nexus for a high concentration of truck
accidents within the United States. It places at number three on
the list of highest truck fatalities by state, compiled by the
National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.
How Dangerous is I-75 for Truck Accidents?
According to the last available statistics, from 2011 to 2015,
the number of truck-related accidents on I-75 nearly doubledfrom
171 to 331.
There are more than 10,000 trucks that enter and leave Florida
every day on I-75.
There were 4,050 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2015,
the highest number since 2008, according to federal data.
In 2015, 3,852 people died in large truck crashes
How Dangerous is I-4 for Truck Accidents?
Rated the deadliest interstate based on Fatalities Per Mile,
Collectively from 2010-2015 and has made the lists top ten for
the past six years
132 miles long with 1.41 fatalities per mile
Notorious amounts of construction which in 2008 led to a 70 car
pile up due to smoke fog from a forest clearing effort
How Dangerous is I-95 for Truck Accidents?
Between 2004 and 2008, there were 1.73 fatalities per mileon
Florida's I-95 making it the highest fatality rate in the
country
a total of 662 fatal accidents and 765 total fatalities in that
time frame
Considered the second deadliest interstate in the United States
by auto insurance center
Why are Florida Interstates so Likely to Have Truck
Accidents?
Florida's Growing Population Congesting the
Roads
With Florida's growing population there has been an increase in
truck accidents once again despite a lull in numbers due to
increased safety precautions implemented in the late 2000's. The
statistics speak for themselves in regard to the danger awaiting
commercial vehicles and those traveling beside them on Florida's
interstates.
With congestion comes stress which is a primary contributor to
aggressive driving. People have places to be and nothing can
frustrate a driver like bumper to bumper traffic at rush hour and
all it takes is one turn into the wrong lane at the wrong time
for a terrible accident to occur.
Inattentive Drivers Can Cause Truck
Accidents
Driver's now have more things than ever to be distracted by. With
the advent of the smartphone the amount of accidents caused by
distracted driving has only increased. Changing the music
playlist, answering a text or even checking the address on a
navigation app can increase risk of an accident
Construction Work Can Contribute to Truck Accident
Chances
At any point of time there is always some form of construction
going on somewhere on one of Florida's interstates. Sometimes
this can directly cause accidents with things like the
aforementioned smoke fog.
Roadside construction work contributes towards accident risk
through lane closures and traffic slowing leading to stressed
drivers and conditions dangerous for inattentive drivers who may
fail to notice eager drivers wanting to maneuver through
congested roads around construction sites.
Why are Truck Accidents on the Interstate so
Dangerous?
Any auto accident, truck accidents especially, have the potential
to cause intense bodily and vehicular harm. It is on the
interstate that truck accidents become the most deadly. Naturally
the interstate is the the most typical site for one to find the
most commercial vehicles, let alone commercial vehicle
accidents.
Passenger Vehicle Fatalities are Greater Than
Trucks
"Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle
occupants," said the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety wrote
in a report late last year. Typically the truck driver is much
less likely to be injured as badly in a truck accident on the
interstate.
Truck Height can Lead to More Deadly
Accidents
They also said "The main problem is the vulnerability of people
traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as
much as passenger cars and are taller, with greater ground
clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles under-riding
trucks in crashes.
Truck Weight is a Danger to Passenger
Vehicles
In addition to the height, trucks typically weigh a whopping
80,000 pounds compared to a large passenger vehicle's 10,000.
With this weight comes the expected dangerous physics that can
lead to extreme injury or death on the interstate.
When driving on Florida's interstates, keep these helpful
driving tips in mind
In order to help keep Florida's interstates as safe as possible
and decrease your risk of contributing to a truck accident follow
these tips.
1.Be Alert and Well-Rested
When driving, do not get distracted by things like your
smartphone, and give the highway your undivided attention. Stop
to get up and stretch every couple hours and avoid sleepy
driving.
2.Manage Your Speed
Drive at the posted speed limit in optimal conditions, and change
your speed when the going gets rough. Factors like snow, ice and
rain, as well as construction and dense traffic, are all
indicators that you may need to slow down.
3.Stay to the Right
On many highways, the left lane is considered the passing lane,
so if you are not overtaking a slower-moving vehicle, stay in the
right lane.
4.Maximize Your Visibility
Turn on your headlights when the sun begins to set or whenever
you use your windshield wipers, and make sure that your
windshield, windows and all exterior lights are clean.
5.Keep to a Safe Following Distance
Nobody likes being tailgated, and if the driver in front of you
has to come to a quick stop, following too closely could result
in an accident.
If you or a loved one have been affected by the tragedy of a
commercial vehicle collision like the ones described please reach
out to Dolman Law Group
to help consider your options for legal action. The lawyers of
Dolman Law Group have a long history of successfully helping
those affected by tragedies such as this to receive the
compensation they deserve.