Ask any car accident attorney in Orlando — there is an alarming number of fatal car accidents every year in Orange County. While the rest of the state has seen a reduction in fatal car accidents over the past few years, Orange County has actually seen an increase, which is alarming, and begs the question: what is causing so many bad accidents in our county?
Take a look at some shocking information about the fatal accidents in Orange County every year, and learn a little bit about how you can keep yourself safe below. If you have any other suggestions, please let us know in the comments!
I-4: THE MOST DEADLY ROAD IN AMERICA
Between 2011 and 2015, I-4 was found to be the most deadly road in America, with an average of 1.250 deaths PER MILE along the entirety of the road. What makes this statistic even more alarming is that Orlando is the deadliest city along the entire stretch of the road. The main issue here could just be purely a fact of congestion, with hundreds of thousands of people pouring onto the highway each day to travel to and from work, amusement parks, restaurants, and other destinations. This road is essential in Florida, linking Orlando with Tampa and Daytona Beach, meaning that there is a lot of long-distance travel and commercial trucking along this roadway.
The quality of the road may play a factor as well. I-4 is known to have many blind curves, poorly-maintained roadways, and seemingly endless construction. While each of these factors does contribute to creating a dangerous roadway, is this really any different than many other roadways in the US?
In addition, many people point out that there are many instances of aggressive driving along Interstate 4, such as passing on the side of the road, tailgating, and rapid changes in speed in traffic. Traffic is particularly bad along I-4 between 3 pm and 7 pm on weekdays, due to commuter traffic.
FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS BY THE NUMBERS
In 2017, there were a total of 188 deaths due to traffic accidents in Orange County, out of a total of 2,924 across the entire state. In total, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported over 400,000 in total in 2017. Across the state, that comes out to more than 1,000 accidents DAILY. In Orange County, there was an average of 8 accidents per day, and right around 0.5 deaths per day.
Alarmingly, Orange County saw an increase of over 9% in fatal accidents between 2016 and 2017, while overall, Florida saw a decrease in fatal accidents by 1.89%. Alcohol played a factor in 362 of the reported accidents, which was an 11% increase over alcohol-related accidents in 2016. Interestingly, alcohol-related fatal car accidents in Orange went down by 33%, from 48 to 32 in the same period of time.
STAYING SAFE WHILE DRIVING IN ORLANDO
One of the most important things that everyone in a car should do, even though it isn’t required by law in Florida for people over 18, is to wear their seatbelt. Seatbelts are proven to be extremely helpful in protecting people from serious injuries in car accidents, especially in tandem with front and side airbags.
In addition to a simple precautionary measure like wearing your seatbelt, it is important to remain vigilant while traveling. Knowing that Orange County is dangerous to drive through is a useful tool for commuters, who can be sure to be extra cautious when changing lanes, approaching intersections, or exiting highways. To stay safe and alert, it is important to avoid using your cellphone, GPS, or radio controls while in motion, and instead keep your attention on the road. It only takes a second of distraction to cause a serious accident.
1800-Injured is a referral service that can help you find the right attorney for your situation. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident in Orange County, contact us today to find the right lawyer for your case.