Florida has several extremely dangerous intersections. While intersections are among the most dangerous areas for drivers in general, certain intersections are known to be much more dangerous than others. Learn more from the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney.
The Most High-Risk Intersections in Florida
What are Florida’s most dangerous intersections? According to various sources, some of the most high-risk intersections for Florida motorists include:
- North Federal Highway and Sheridan Street in Broward County
- North Park Road and Sheridan Street in Broward County
- U.S. Route 19 and Ridge Road in Pasco County
- U.S. Route 19 and Ulmerton Road in Pinellas County
- U.S. Route 19 and Washington Street in Pasco County
- U.S. Route 41 and State Road 70 in Manatee County
- Southwest 87th Avenue and Bird Road in Miami-Dade County
- Southwest 97th Avenue and Bird Road in Miami-Dade County
- Southwest 147th Avenue and North Kendall Drive in Miami-Dade County
- State Road 7 and Sheridan Street in Broward County
- State Road 19 and State Road 40 in Marion County
- State Road 31 and County Road 74 in Charlotte County
- State Road 33 and Deen Still Road in Polk County
- State Road 54 and Madison Street in Pasco County
- University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail in Orange County
These are just examples. There are countless intersections across Florida, and many of these intersections have seen multiple crashes in recent years. From heavy traffic to limited visibility and from inadequate signage to poorly timed traffic signals, a variety of issues are to blame. Of course, careless, reckless and aggressive driving are concerns as well, and many intersection accidents are simply the result of drivers making poor decisions behind the wheel.
Florida’s Deadliest Roads
Several of the intersections listed above are located on Florida’s deadliest roads. Last year, Consumer Affairs published a report on fatal car accidents in Florida since 2020, and it identifies Florida’s 10 deadliest roads as (in order from most deaths to least):
- U.S. Route 1
- Interstate 95
- U.S. Route 41
- Interstate 75
- U.S. Route 27
- U.S. Route 19
- U.S. Route 441
- U.S. Route 98
- U.S. Route 90
- U.S. Route 17
While Consumer Affairs reports, “U.S. Route 1 holds the top spot for traffic deaths since 2020, with 394 deaths,” it also notes that, “[b]y mile, I-95 [is] ranked first, with 0.9 deaths per mile since 2020.” Overall, the 10 roads listed above account for approximately 23 percent of all fatal car accidents statewide.
In addition to listing Florida’s deadliest roads, the Consumer Affairs report also identifies the most dangerous road in each county based on the number of accident-related fatalities. In the 10 counties with the most fatal car accidents, the most dangerous roads are (in order from most deaths to least):
- Pinellas County: U.S. Route 19
- Pasco County: U.S. Route 19
- Broward County: Interstate 95
- Orange County: State Road 50
- Brevard County: U.S. Route 1
- Hillsborough County: U.S. Route 41
- Lee County: U.S. Route 41
- Palm Beach County: Interstate 95
- Miami-Dade County: U.S. Route 1
- Duval County: U.S. Route 90
It isn’t a surprise that several roads appear on all three of these lists. This reflects the fact that many of Florida’s most dangerous roads are home to the state’s most dangerous intersections. While safety improvements are being made in some areas, these roads and intersections remain dangerous, and it is up to drivers to do what they can to keep themselves and their passengers as safe as possible.
How Drivers (and Passengers) Can Protect Themselves at Florida’s Most Dangerous Intersections
While it would be nice if we could simply avoid Florida’s most dangerous intersections, for many drivers, this simply isn’t an option. With this in mind, what can drivers (and passengers) do to protect themselves? Here are some tips from the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney:
1. Prioritize Your Safety
First and foremost, drivers (and passengers) should prioritize their safety whenever they are approaching a dangerous intersection. This means that passengers should let drivers focus on the task at hand. Drivers should focus on approaching and passing through the intersection as safely as possible—even if this means taking a little bit of extra time.
2. Be On the Lookout for Dangerous Drivers
When approaching a high-risk intersection, it is important to be on the lookout for dangerous drivers. While some intersections are dangerous because of issues with the intersection itself, others are dangerous because of how drivers approach them. If you know that a red light or stop sign often gets run by other drivers, keep this in mind as you decide when it is safe to go.
3. Observe All Signage and Rules of the Road
Part of prioritizing your safety means observing all signage and rules of the road. Even if other drivers routinely run a particular red light or stop sign, it is still your duty to comply with the law. This is also one of the best things you can do to stay safe—because even if other drivers are breaking the law, they will still be anticipating that you will do the right thing.
4. Time Your Driving Around the Busiest Times of the Day
If you cannot avoid a dangerous intersection entirely, you may still be able to mitigate your risk (and your passengers’ risk) by timing your driving around the busiest times of the day. For example, if a particular intersection gets busy during the morning rush hour, leaving just 15 minutes early could make your drive much safer and more stress-free.
5. Don’t Let Other Drivers Pressure You Into Dangerous Decisions
Finally, don’t let other drivers pressure you into dangerous decisions. If someone behind you is honking to try to force you to go, don’t go until you are ready. The moment will pass, and once it does, you will feel confident that you made the right decision for you and your family.
Injured in a Car Accident? Contact Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Searcy Denney, our Florida personal injury lawyers represent drivers, passengers and families after car accidents across Florida. If you have questions about your legal rights after an intersection accident, call 800-780-8607 or contact us online for a free consultation today.
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