Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Some recent data that tabulates the numbers of crashes and
fatalities on roads throughout Southwest Florida should give area drivers
reason to take notice. The information regarding which local highways and roads
are the scene of the most accidents may not come as much of a surprise to those
who drive them daily – but the numbers support what local motorists have
often thought – there are far too many accidents in Lee and Collier
Counties.

A recent report released by the Lee County Department of
Transportation’s Public Works Departments compiles data to show the roads there
that had the highest number of traffic accidents in 2008. The top 15 “hot
spots” are identified here – the “2008 Rate” numbers indicate the number
of crashes per million vehicles entering the specific intersection:

2008 High Crash Locations
On Street	Cross Street	2008	2007	2006	2008 Rate
US 41	DANIELS PKWY	59	90	89	1.64
US 41	SIX MILE CYPRESS PKWY	51	60	76	1.55
SR 82	COLONIAL BLVD	46	69	54	1.97
DANIELS PKWY	TREELINE AVE	43	52	40	2.03
COLONIAL BLVD	SIX MILE CYPRESS PKWY	43	60	70	1.41
SANTA BARBARA BLVD	VETERANS PKWY	42	63	39	1.59
US 41	PONDELLA RD	41	53	53	2.26
DEL PRADO BLVD S	VETERANS PKWY	41	86	49	1.07
US 41	PINE ISLAND RD NW	37	53	49	1.89
US 41	COLLEGE PKWY	36	47	66	1.26
COLONIAL BLVD	METRO PKWY	36	43	36	1.16
CORKSCREW RD	THREE OAKS PKWY	34	27	33	1.93
MCGREGOR BLVD	COLLEGE PKWY	34	47	50	1.41
COLONIAL BLVD	FOWLER ST	34	36	45	1.12
SUMMERLIN RD	COLLEGE PKWY	33	42	45	1.31

 

If there is any good news to take away from this information, it is that in all but one location, the number of accidents is down from 2007. Still, local government and law enforcement officials are constantly working to make area roads safer, and reduce the number of accidents in Southwest Florida.

 

There are other reports compiled which detail the total number of crashes on Lee and Collier County roads, the fatality rates involved, and the causes of the accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation publishes a Fatality Analysis Report from information contained in law enforcement accident reports.

 

Lee County Traffic Deaths from 1994 to 2008

Fatal Accidents            1340

Total Deaths                        1464

Drinking                        25.3%

Speeding                        17.5%

No Seat Belts                        68.2%

 

Lee County Roads with Highest Death Counts from 1994-2008

Type of Road                        Name of Road                        Number of Deaths

INTERSTATE            I-75                                    164

US HIGHWAY            US-41                                    148

STATE HIGHWAY            SR-80                                    83

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Collier County Traffic Deaths from 1994 to 2008

Fatal Accidents            713

Total Deaths                        825

Drinking                        19.5%

Speeding                        16.4%

No Seat Belts                        65.9%

 

Collier County Roads with Highest Death Counts from 1994-2008

Type of Road                        Name of Road                        Number of Deaths

INTERSTATE            I-75                                    208

US HIGHWAY            US-41                                    112

COUNTY ROAD            CR-846                        53

 

Recently, The Scripps Howard News Service conducted their own study of national and area roads via the newspaper and television outlets they operate throughout the country. (Scripps has no media outlets in Lee County.) The company’s reporters compiled data illustrating which roads were the most deadly, and called their special report “Killer Roads”. In the series, the Collier County information uncovered by reporters from The Naples Daily News revealed what most people would think to be obvious – the best way to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities is to not drink and drive, travel at the posted speed limit, wear your seatbelt, and avoid aggressive and distracted driving habits. Also, the series pointed out that there might be a correlation between expanding the number of Interstate lanes and reducing accidents. A Florida Highway Patrol spokesman was quoted as saying that more lanes equal less congestion, and the result is a reduced incidence of accidents.

 

“As the Scripps series pointed out, most of the traffic fatalities can be attributed to speeding, alcohol or drug impairment or not wearing seat belts,” noted Bruce L. Scheiner, Founder and Senior Attorney at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers, P.A. He continued by adding that “distracted drivers who are texting, eating or using their cell phones have also been shown to be as dangerous as drunk drivers.”

 

Aggressively fighting for justice on behalf of accident victims and their families has been the mission of the experts at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers since 1971.  If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence of another or by a roadway that may be unsafe, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.  Please call 1-800-Dial-BLS or log onto www.focusedonjustice.com to arrange for a no-obligation, free private consultation. If our firm works on your case,   you pay us nothing unless we win. 

 

 

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