2024 Florida Road Safety Report: Crashes, DUIs, and More

When it comes to traffic, things are changing in The Sunshine State. From 2021 to 2024, a continued surge in population and changes in driver behaviors have made roads busier and a bit more challenging.

Our updated 2024 Road Safety Report takes a deep dive into these trends, giving you the latest on what it’s really like to drive in Florida.

Reckless Driving in Florida Continues to Rise

In 2021, there were 6,880 casesSpecialtyPlates UniformTrafficCitationReport Services.flhsmv.gov of reckless driving in Florida. By 2023, this number has risen to 7,243 — a 5.27% increase. But this is just the beginning. Let's take a deeper dive. 

Florida Drivers Are Taking Greater Risks

More stats confirm that Florida roads are getting riskier. For starters, there was a sharp increase in racing on state highways. While 1,174 drivers were caught in the act in 2022, by the end of 2023, this shot up to 1,887 — an increase of over 61%.

In addition, more Florida drivers are engaging in distracted drivingTrending Dangers Distracted Driving Us Driversed.com. In 2023, there were 2,249 citations issued for texting while driving. This marks a 25% increase from the 1,791 citations that were issued in 2021. 

DUI Incidents Are Going Up, But Deaths Are Down

Unfortunately, more people in Florida are choosing to drive under the influenceTrending Facts And Laws About Drinking And Driving Driversed.com of alcohol or drugs. While in 2021 there were 43,787 drivers arrested for DUI, 2023 saw 44,185 DUI arrests in the Sunshine State. While this is a relatively small increase, even one is one too many.

Despite DUI rates going up, fewer drivers are dying in drug- and alcohol-fueled crashes. From January 1 to July 4, 2024, Florida has seen 281 fatalities and 511 serious injuries due to impaired driving. If this pattern holds, we're looking at potentially 533 fatalities and 1,007 serious injuries by year's end.

While the number of serious injuries has remained steady, the projected fatalities for 2024 are down significantly. In 2022, there were 1,051 fatalities, so this year's numbers could represent a drop of 49.2%. That's a substantial decrease, showing some progress in making our roads safer.

Seat Belt Use

Authorities in Florida issued a total of 74,760 seal belt violations in 2023. This represents an increase over 2022, when there were 72,258 seat belt citations issued. With roads getting more dangerous, buckling up is more important than ever.

Traffic and Pedestrian Deaths

So far, there have been fewer traffic fatalities and pedestrian deaths in 2024. As of August 31, the number of fatal crashes totaled 1,925. There were also 410 pedestrian fatalities. If these trends continue, we can expect a total of about 1,925 traffic fatalities and 622 pedestrian fatalities by the end of 2024.

Considering there were 3,553 fatal crashes and 786 pedestrian fatalities in 2022, the statistics seem to be moving in the right direction. 

Tech Impacts on Road Safety

Technology innovations have provided us with safer vehicles designed to prevent crashes. Features like blind spot detection and automatic emergency braking help drivers avoid collisions and potential injuries.

However, as drivers become more reliant on tech, it’s important to remember that no amount of automation can fully replace attentive driving. Combining the safety of tech tools with smart defensive drivingDriving Information Defensive Driving Defensive Driving Techniques Driversed.com practices is the best way to improve safety on Florida's roads. 

Community Safety Initiatives

The Florida Department of Transportation is continually addressing common driving safety issues. Initiatives like Target ZeroTarget Zero Agencyresources aim to reduce the number of transportation-related deaths and serious injuries in Florida to zero. Drive Safe FloridaDrivesafe Drive Safe Campaign Fdotsafetyresources.com is an aggressive driving campaign dedicated to making Florida roads safer. In addition, there are many traffic safety coalitionsSafety Coalitions Coalitonsresources.shtm Safety, bringing together multiple partners to help keep all drivers and pedestrians safe throughout the state.

Stay Safe on Florida’s Roadways

The massive influx of people moving to Florida means the roads are busier now than ever. More cars on the road also mean more chances for accidents. In addition, an uptick in risky behaviors, from texting while driving to street racing, also makes Florida roads more dangerous. As a driver, it’s critical to understand the potential impact of your actions and commit to staying alert and being responsible.

As Florida’s roads become busier and driving conditions more complex, keeping your skills sharp is critical. DriverEd.com’s Online Traffic SchoolTraffic School Driversed.com is a great way to refresh your knowledge, and it can even help you get your ticket dismissed. Explore your options now.

*Updated 09/13/2024