The Deadliest Roads in Florida

Study:The Deadliest Roads in Florida

SUMMARY

What are the Deadliest and Most Dangerous Roads in Florida?

1. I-95 Express Toll in Little River, Miami, FL
2. Beach Blvd in Jacsksonville, FL
3. 66th St. in Largo, FL
4. I-95 in North Miami, FL
5. Semoran Blvd in Casselberry, FL
6. NW 79th St. in West Little River, FL
7. W State Hwy 60 in Plant City, FL
8. 34th St N. in St. Petersberg, FL
9. NW 54th St. in Miami, FL
10. Cortez Rd W. in Bradenton, FL

Discover The Deadliest Roads in the Following Counties:

– Miami-Dade County
– Broward County
– Pinellas County
– Orange County

Despite advances in automobile safety and highway regulations, traffic fatalities remain on the rise, with no real end in sight. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 35,092 traffic fatalities in the US in 2015 – a 7.2 percent increase from the previous year, the largest single-year increase since 1966.

The third most populous state in the country, Florida is a significant contributor to those numbers – in 2015, Florida saw 2,939 fatalities, accounting for 8.4 percent of all traffic fatalities in the US.

These deaths occurred across 2,699 fatal crashes, seemingly evenly dispersed across road types and counties. To determine where exactly the deadliest roads were in Florida, we consulted data visualization firm 1Point21 Interactive for their insights.

Through our analysis, we discovered that from 2013-2015, 1501 traffic fatalities occurred across just 97 specific stretches of Florida roads. Expanding this to state-level data, over 19 percent of all traffic fatalities in Florida occurred across roughly 568 miles of road.

Rotate Mobile Device for Best Experience

The Deadliest Road Segments in Florida

Why We Commissioned This Study

The personal injury attorneys at SteinLaw know the impact of sudden tragedy on a person’s life. Just one unfortunate incident or unforeseen accident can turn a person’s world upside-down, and profoundly impact their quality of life for the future.

There’s no telling what everyday occurrences can result in harm, injury, or even death – and as personal advocates for your wellbeing, we want to prevent any injury and harm from affecting you and your loved ones. Even daily activities like driving can be life-changers if you make the wrong turn, so we’re here to make sure you make informed decisions when you’re behind the wheel.

Insights

The Little River neighborhood of Miami topped the list with 27 fatalities across a 3.85-mile stretch of the Interstate 95 Express lane – a staggering rate of 7.01 fatalities-per-mile.
Interstate 95, one of the busiest freeways in Florida, had the highest amount of deadly road sections, totaling 240 fatalities across just 108.06 miles.
Miami-Dade County contains the road with the highest fatalities-per-mile, the road with the highest fatalities, and the road with the most fatal crashes.

With 4.57 fatalities-per-mile, Pinellas County tops the list among all Florida Counties

Miami and the I-95 Express Lane

Ranked by fatalities-per-mile, a 3.85-mile stretch of Miami freeway in the Little River neighborhood topped our list. The highway in question is the Interstate 95 Express Lane, a much-maligned toll road that’s been the subject of high scrutiny and controversy.

The express lanes are separated by delineators – plastic poles intended to prevent drivers from going into the paid lanes. However, because these poles are flimsy, fragile, and do no damage to vehicles, the express lane has become a primary target for “lane-divers” – drivers who cut through from the regular freeway to avoid traffic.

This has spelled danger for those on the road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, in one three-year-period, there were 12,192 crashes in the county’s express lanes – five included fatalities and 58 involved injuries.

In response to the danger, the Florida Department of Transportation has recently altered the delineators, changing them to more sturdy poles and reducing the space between them from 20 feet to ten feet (and then five feet, most recently). However, it hasn’t altered the behavior of lane-drivers significantly – the state still loses 600 of these poles a week to damage. Some even argue it makes the express lane more dangerous, due to the reduced sightlines from tighter spacing between poles.

The danger is so prevalent that both South Florida lawmakers and the Florida Highway Patrol have denounced the poles dividing the lanes, going so far as to say they do nothing to stop lane-diving. In fact, this year State Senator Frank Artiles has filed a bill proposing a ban to express lanes in Florida.

Nevertheless, the Florida DOT persists in operating them – even expanding the program to include express lanes in other freeways across South Florida.

Miami-Dade County

With a population of 2.7 million, Miami-Dade County is the state’s most populous county – so it’s not surprising that they also have the highest number of deadly highway stretches, fatal crashes, and fatalities. From 2013-2015, the county had 369 fatalities spanning just 21 stretches of road 101.93 miles long.

It’s important to note, also, that 12 of the 21 stretches occurred on city roads. Local roads frequently rank high when it comes to fatal crashes – in 2015, more than 22 percent of all fatal crashes in Florida occurred on local roads, second only to state routes, according to the FLHSMV.

Additionally, a good portion of fatalities seem to occur in impoverished neighborhoods. For example, the West Little River region of Miami-Dade shows up alongside more highly-populated areas such as Hialeah and Miami proper, although it’s a relatively small urban residential area housing 34,699 people. The median income for a household in West Little River is $26,686, and the median income for a family is $29,013. Nearly a quarter of families live well below the poverty line.

Studies have shown that poorer neighborhoods are more prone to dangerous car accidents, typically due to less safe road designs and poor pedestrian safety guidance.

Broward County – Ft. Lauderdale and Arterial Roads

Broward County ranks second in the state for number of deadly road segments with 14, and third in total fatalities-per-mile at 3.47. That’s no surprise: in 2015, Broward tallied 38,409 crashes and 221 fatalities, second only to Miami-Dade County.

A 2.28-mile stretch of Sheridan Street is the deadliest in Broward, at 4.39 fatalities-per-mile. Also known as Florida State Road 822, this road segment borders Dania Beach and Hollywood. A major arterial roadway, it provides a convenient connecting route between Interstate 95 and US Highway 1, which both have reputations as two of the most dangerous highways in Florida.

Fort Lauderdale is the home to the longest road segment identified in our study, a 9.09-mile portion of State Road 7 that also has the most fatalities, known more commonly as US-441. Located near the Melrose Park neighborhood, this stretch of road had 29 fatal crashes, resulting in 30 fatalities. Another arterial highway, US Route 441 gets roughly 48,000 drivers daily, being one of the major urban corridor to numerous residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, and points of entertainment.

Although the high amount of traffic should be taken into consideration, there may be other undiscovered factors that contribute to the danger of US-441.

Pinellas County – Home to the Most Dangerous Road in Florida

Although Pinellas County has a modest population, its traffic fatalities remain consistently high. In fact, with 74 fatalities happening in just six stretches of highway totaling 16.21 miles of road, Pinellas tops all counties in fatalities-per-mile, at 4.57 – nearly one whole fatality-per-mile higher than Miami-Dade County.

The main reason for this is U.S. Route 19. One of the most heavily traveled roads in Florida, a 34-mile-stretch through Pinellas County has been notorious for its dangerous road conditions for more than a decade. A five-year study from 1998-2003 by the Florida Highway Patrol (in conjunction with Dateline NBC) discovered that the highway was responsible for roughly 52 deaths annually, and a Dateline NBC piece deemed it the most dangerous road in America in 2005.

Of the six stretches of deadly road in Pinellas County, all of them are closely associated with U.S. Route 19. For example, 34^th Street North is a section of U.S Route 19 that serves as an arterial roadway, and State Road 55 is a “secret” designation of Route 19. The remaining stretches serve as alternative routes or major cross streets of the highway.

What makes Route 19 so dangerous?

High traffic. The major road attracts roughly 80,000 drivers daily. In 2016, some stretches even had average daily traffic of over 100,000 drivers, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Parts of U.S. Route 19 can vary greatly in width and speed, some parts being more traditional highway, and others resembling more of an arterial urban corridor. These differences come with vastly varying speed limits – a speed limit of 45 mph can commonly increase to a cruising limit of 70 mph, and vice versa. Within those urban roads are also storefronts and shopping centers directly off of the highway, resulting in numerous cars slowing down to enter and exit driveways and parking lots.
Pedestrian safety – or lack thereof. Crosswalks are littered throughout the urban sections of U.S. Route 19, but can be across as many as 8 lanes, all containing vehicles traveling at high speeds.

According to a 2016 Traffic Crash Trends and Conditions Report by non-profit advocacy group Forward Pinellas, driver safety in the county seems to be improving in areas, but rapidly decreasing in others – particularly pedestrians. Although total fatalities had a five-year decrease of 12 percent, total pedestrian fatalities had a five-year increase of 18 percent.

In fact, the study shows that, in 2014 and 2015, Pinellas County had the highest pedestrian fatalities per capita among all Florida counties – and 80 percent above the national average from 2011-2015.

With major arterial roads cutting through suburban-developments meant for smaller surface streets, these alarming numbers are certainly a cause for concern and further investigation.

Orange County & Orlando – Theme Park Capital of the World

Orange County, home to “The Theme Park Capital of the World,” is arguably the major tourist hub of Florida. Although our analysis only contains two stretches of deadly highway in Orlando, these two roads are undoubtedly very dangerous. &

With 44 fatalities across two portions of road 14.55 miles long, Orange County had 3.02 fatalities-per-mile – higher than that of Palm Beach County, which has nearly five times as many stretches of deadly road. Most Orlando residents and visitors are familiar with both stretches of road:

East Colonial Drive. Often thought to be the “Main Street” of Orlando, this is one of the main arterial east-west roads in Central Florida, connecting two of the busiest freeways in the state, Interstate 4 and Interstate 95.
Interstate 4. One of the first interstate highways in Florida, this highway is the main point of access for tourists, cutting directly through downtown Orlando – and through most of the world-famous theme parks south of downtown.

Ultimately, tourism seems to be a main contributor to danger on these major roads. In 2016, Orlando had a record 68 million visitors – up from 66 million in 2015. Taking into consideration that nearly 113 million tourists visited the state in 2016, that’s over 60% of all visitors to the Sunshine State.

This surge of visitors certainly shows on Orange County’s roads: in 2016, East Colonial Drive served nearly 60,000 drivers daily, and Interstate 4 saw an unbelievable daily average of 201,000 drivers.

The state is heading in the right direction to alleviate the traffic here – a road-widening project has increased the number of lanes on East Colonial Drive from four to six, and the “I-4 Ultimate” project is a six-year initiative started in 2015 to rebuild 21 miles of interstate, including replacing more than 140 bridges.

Unfortunately, the construction may have resulted in less safe road conditions – at least temporarily. Closed lanes and poorly displayed signage frustrated drivers on East Colonial Drive, and a year into construction, the I-4 Ultimate project has actually increased a motorists’ chances of crashing by 12 percent.

With the tourism industry surging in Florida as the economy improves, these heightened chances of danger on the road may be worthwhile if it means safer roads for years to come.

Methodology and Data Sources

Our geospatial analysis utilized Florida traffic fatality data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the three years spanning 2013-2015. Because Florida is a state inundated with high-traffic arterial roads, data from local roads were also included with interstate and highway data. We included all stretches with more than 10 fatalities during this time period, and then ranked them by fatalities per mile.

Road stretches vary by length due to our analysis of fatality clusters in 2.5-mile portions. That is, the stretches run until the road goes more than 2.5 miles without a fatality. A more detailed methodology is available upon request.

Brandon Stein

Chief Executive Officer

Brandon Stein is a Florida based trial attorney born in Queens, New York, and was raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Being the son of an accountant that owns a large firm in New Jersey, owning and operating a business is something that was engrained within Brandon Stein from a very young age…[READ BIO]

Schedule a Personalized Case Evaluation

No Fee Unless We Win

What Our Clients Say

Domenick Lazzara

Dom Law has referred a number of its own business clients to SteinLaw with excellent results. As you can imagine, it takes a great deal of trust and confidence in a lawyer and law firm to entrust a loyal business client to another lawyer and law firm. Time and time again, Stein Law has proved

[...]

Debora Tennant

Dear Mr. Stein, Thank you for your consideration in the below mentioned matter. I appreciate the time that your assistant Alejandra took with me over the phone as well as the time you also took to review the facts. Alejandra is a great asset to your firm. She was extremely professional, kind, caring and patient.

[...]

Richard U

I would like to thank the firm for their professional work as representing me, We’re very helpful in all phases of the case to the end all the staff is very knowledgeable in there areas of expertise don’t be afraid to ask questions they are there for you. Like to thank you Mr. Stein for

[...]

Otniel Castillo

I want to start by sending my regards to everyone in Stein Law. The team is great, especially Adrian Miguel who’s been with me since day one. With patience, which is the key to success, he managed my case carefully & thoroughly. When you think of a lawyer due to an accident, slip, or fall,

[...]

Anderson Paul

Amazing Law Firm!! Attorney’s Brandon Stein & Jason Stein were phenomenal. They were there for my wife along the whole way, never missed a beat. They settled my wife case quickly and the communication was constant. I never felt as if I had to stay on top of them nor constantly check. They assisted my

[...]

Shaya Markovic

My office has referred numerous cases to Stein Law. They have all been handled professionally. I would recommend Brandon and will continue referring his office cases in the future.

[...]

Lori Ann

Highly recommend this law firm. Very professional, they take care of your stress and worries so you don’t have to!

[...]

Dr Dvorkin

I have known Brandon personally & professionally for the better part of the last 6 years. He is a true professional and a caring attorney who is extremely through in everything he does. I have seen the way he interacts with his clients AND with Insurance companies. He ALWAYS answers his phone, responds to emails

[...]

Esmeralda Franjul

I am very pleased with the performance, professionalism and determination of Mr. Stein. Throughout my case, he was always patient in explaining details/developments of my case . I greatly appreciate and thank you for your sharp eye in handling my litigation.

[...]

Shaya Markovic

I’ve worked with Brandon and Stein Law on numerous cases and his office has always been professional and courteous. I would recommend this firm for your personal injury case.

[...]

Alexander Irlin

Top personal injury attorneys in Florida and beyond!

[...]

Domenick Lazzara

As the proud owner of Dom Law, PA, in Ybor City, Florida, I cannot recommend attorney Brandon Stein and the entire Stein Law Team enough. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Brandon on a number of cases, ranging from my time as a small firm, and stretching as far back as law school. Mr.

[...]

Oscar Soto

I am forever grateful for the effort and support from everyone at Stein law. They made a really difficult situation easier to navigate. I was constantly informed of every step and situation that would be coming. My case wa settled in what I consider a relative short time (17 months). Their knowledge of the law

[...]

Jason Valentin

Very professional and gets results!

[...]

AJ Yolofsky

Brandon has been one of my go-to personal injury attorneys for more than 5 years running. He’s handled cases for some of my close friends and their families. Everyone has come back to me describing their satisfaction with his results, professionalism, and most of all – the personal attentive service he gives to clients. If

[...]

Dani McCoy

This law office was helpful is several ways. Brandon Stein and staff were amazing!!! They helped me every little issue pertaining to my accident. I literally didn’t have to much at all Stein and company handled everything! I highly refer these guys.

[...]

Franz Wakefield

Having Stein Law as my counsel, I am more than ecstatic about the results that the firm was able to secure for me; and I can honestly communicate to you that working with Stein Law and their support staff was the BEST EXPERIENCE that I have had with a law firm, ever. Their Team is

[...]

John Fitzgerald III

Jason Stein went above and beyond to help me in my personal injury case. I would highly recomend Jason and Stein law to anyone who is looking for help …Thank you To everyone at Stein Law ..God Bless

[...]

Osvlado D

I want to acknowledge that during the time I was with SteinLaw I was always treated well and was never in the dark about my case. In one word “professionalism” is all I can say about Brandon Stein and his staff. 2 thumbs up in my book.

[...]

Philomene Carrenard

I will definitely recommend SteinLaw. I never expected to get that kind of cash back. I was just looking to have medical services, with that only with nothing out of pocket . . . and I got medical services plus cash. Pretty impressive.

[...]

Latoya S

I am very pleased with my settlement. I felt welcomed and everyone at SteinLaw is courteous and kind. It was well worth the wait. Negotiation process took some time, but overall well put together. The most important thing is they are good at what they do and very professional.

[...]

Sheryl Campo

I have used SteinLaw on two occasions. First to get my medical bills paid in a “slip and fall” case and second for an injury my mother had while on a cruise. In each instance, Brandon Stein and his team, brought the case to a fair settlement and all issues and bills were resolved. His

[...]

Caroline R

I am very grateful for the dedication and hard work SteinLaw put into my family’s and my case. We are very satisfied with the outcome and appreciate the staff’s hard work.

[...]

Silvia Barkova-Lavy

Highly recommend using help of SteinLaw. Very professional, caring staff with highest satisfactional result. They were really helpful and give us explanation step by step. Never promised something they could not deliver. I will use them if needed for sure again. Thank you for representing me.

[...]

Albia Orta

My experience with SteinLaw was way more than I expected. Remarkable job on all of their parts. I was shocked when I received my portion. I would definitely refer anyone to their firm. What can I say they are the best!!

[...]

Wilnneisha J

The experience here at SteinLaw was wonderful, honest, and truly professional. This office took my family by the hands and provided the best guidance we needed to get through such a trying time. The process was detailed perfectly and the duration was made comfortable with adequate updates and information.

[...]

Nadia Malove

I am writing to state how fully satisfied I am for the great service that Mr. Brandon Stein has given me. I went to his office with no hopes of getting any recovery money for my case. He made everything so easy and got me a lot more money than I every expected. He was

[...]

Benilda Guerrero-Ortega

Brandon Stein services have been Phenomenal! The staff, the recommendations, the explanations of my case and treatment have been absolutely awesome! Thank you so much for all your help and I wish you all the best this world has to offer.

[...]

Israel Horowitz

I had a very pleasant experience with Brandon Stein and his law firm. They were very helpful with our case from start to finish, we were very well informed and received a great settlement.

[...]

Mariam Melo

My experience with SteinLaw was very good. The Lawyer did his job and was able to reach my expectations. I truly do recommend him to others.

[...]

Scott Stolley

Brandon Stein was very helpful and very accessible. It was a good experience working with Brandon. He was able to not only help me legally, but ensured that i obtained treatment with doctors in my area, so commuting to them was no problem.

[...]

Kenold J

I appreciate the help, y’all are great. As soon as I call the law firm, someone picks up and helps me right away. I cannot complain at all from the service of my attorneys [at] SteinLaw. Thank you. I am grateful.

[...]

Juan Boada

I am very satisfied with the attention and legal representation I have received by SteinLaw. Without any hesitation, i recommend their services. From the moment SteinLaw started working with my vehicle accident claim, everything started progressing effectively. The usual complex legal terminology was made easy for any client to understand. Thank you very much to

[...]

Nathalie G

Brandon Stein was extremely communicative throughout the process and was able to help settle my case with a positive outcome. Very professional and attentive staff. 100% satisfied.

[...]

Giovanni B

SteinLaw was very attentive in settling my case and I am thankful for the attorney’s great work. I am also appreciative for SteinLaw’s professional and hard-working staff.

[...]

Reynaldo Reyes

My name is Reynaldo Reyes and I am a former client. I was very happy with the job that Brandon Stein did for me. He is very professional and on top of his thing. Thank you so much.

[...]

Glenn O

Brandon and his team were very helpful in dealing with my case. They kept me in the loop with all matters pertaining to my case. I would be happy to recommend SteinLaw to anyone who needs a personal injury attorney.

[...]

Loriann Black

My experience with Attorney Brandon Stein was a very pleasant one. He treats his clients with respect and communicates in a timely fashion. He is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He works diligently to settle your case. I would recommend him to anyone who is seeking an personal injury attorney.

[...]

Victoria Hernandez

10/10 would recommend. Very professional and attentive service. Paralegal Heidi was exceptionally helpful.

[...]

Daisy Hernandez

This firm displays the best helping hand. They assure you receive the settlement you deserve, I’m more than pleased with the closing of my case.

[...]

Jacky Aguilar

I had the best imaginable experience, paralegal Rebecca was a great help, never made me feel like I was asking too much. She dealt with my questions rapidly and thoroughly.

[...]

Yahaira Lopez

I received positive results throughout my contact with this firm. Mr. Miguel the attorney on my case was of acceptable assistance in representing me. I personally recommended this firm to family and friends for future matters

[...]

Maria Morgado

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what a thoroughly outstanding job that they did for me in my medical malpractice case. Paralegal Evelin was a complete professional in the handling of my case. Kept me well informed on every aspect of the case from start to finish.

[...]

Jeffrey Franjul

I am very pleased with the performance, professionalism and determination of Mr. Stein. Throughout my case, he was always very quick to respond, made himself available and always patient in explaining details/developments of my case. I greatly appreciate and thank you for your sharp eye in handling my litigation.

[...]

Jenny

Very pleased with the staff and the attention given to me as my case progresses.

[...]

Yubran

Courteous and professional law firm.

[...]

Ernesto

Very satisfied with my settlement. From the beginning to the end I received status and clear explanations of my case result.

[...]

Jeremiah

Stein law helped me tremendously thank to them I got my claim.

[...]

Adib

Even though attorneys have a very busy schedule from the beginning to the end I was able to have direct contact with the attorneys at Steinlaw along with his staff who were always available and willing to help with any concern.

[...]

View All Testimonials

Schedule a Personalized Case Evaluation

No Fee Unless We Win

Fill out the form below to schedule a free and confidential initial consultation

As Seen On:

Connect with Steinlaw!

Sign-up to our email newsletters and stay connected with us. We are delivering meaningful content every week via email & social media for every community throughout Florida.

Domenick Lazzara

Debora Tennant

Richard U

Otniel Castillo

Anderson Paul

Shaya Markovic

Lori Ann

Dr Dvorkin

Esmeralda Franjul

Shaya Markovic

Alexander Irlin

Domenick Lazzara

Oscar Soto

Jason Valentin

AJ Yolofsky

Dani McCoy

Franz Wakefield

John Fitzgerald III

Osvlado D

Philomene Carrenard

Latoya S

Sheryl Campo

Caroline R

Silvia Barkova-Lavy

Albia Orta

Wilnneisha J

Nadia Malove

Benilda Guerrero-Ortega

Israel Horowitz

Mariam Melo

Scott Stolley

Kenold J

Juan Boada

Nathalie G

Giovanni B

Reynaldo Reyes

Glenn O

Loriann Black

Victoria Hernandez

Daisy Hernandez

Jacky Aguilar

Yahaira Lopez

Maria Morgado

Jeffrey Franjul

Jenny

Yubran

Ernesto

Jeremiah

Adib

Schedule a Personalized Case Evaluation

No Fee Unless We Win

As Seen On:

Social Share