Dangerous Drivers: Jacksonville Ranks as Worst City in Florida for Car Accidents
The Florida Highway Patrol has reported that Jacksonville suffered 14,064 automobile crashes in 2008, the highest total of any Florida city. What’s shocking is that’s roughly one and a half times the number of accidents as Miami! Sadly, about 1,182 crashes out of the total were alcohol-related.
This is unsettling for me, since I am a Magistrate Judge in the Traffic Courts of Duval county. Most people who request a court date are not bad drivers, but every day, there is at least a handful of people who have been caught driving at speeds in excess of 30mph on streets where families live, children play, and people work. That is unacceptable!
Florida, as a whole, doesn’t fare well compared to the rest of the country. It's the 43rd-ranked state for driver’s exam scores according to a 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. At least lawmakers are taking steps to reduce risks. A Florida bill is under review that will prohibit texting while driving, both reading and sending messages. More measures like this should be taken to decrease the number of wrecks each year.
A short drive down I-95 in Jacksonville will give you a taste of the aggressive and dangerous driving on our streets. It will take a concerted effort from every driver to bring these numbers down. We can all improve and be more aware and considerate of others while in our cars. If not, we might take this shameful crown next year too!
In the unfortunate event of an accident, a prudent personal injury attorney can help you sort things out!
