There are certain times of year when it feels like there are more cars on every road in Florida. While that is frequently the case, thanks to a booming tourist industry, Floridians and visitors alike should always use caution when driving. Only four days into 2019, a crash involving multiple vehicles on I-75 resulted in the deaths of 7 people, including 5 children who were on their way from Louisiana to Disney World.

More often than not these days, when you turn on the news in Florida, there is another car accident. This phenomenon can make Florida residents jaded to how dangerous Florida roads have become. Yet it has been statistically proven that the likelihood of a fatal car accident in Florida is increasing.

Auto accidents bring a lot of negative consequences everywhere they appear. At a minimum, you may be worried about repairs to your vehicle, the other party’s vehicle, and your insurance rates going up. In more serious cases, you may be dealing with serious injuries, lost income, hospital bills, ongoing medical care, and emotional recovery. The best way to overcome the feeling that car accidents are inevitable is to familiarize yourself with Florida’s auto accident statistics and some easy steps to ensure you’re doing your best to avoid an accident.

Florida Auto Accident Statistics Infographic

How to Avoid an Auto Accident

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from an accident is to use dedicated caution every time you get behind the wheel. While some situations are unavoidable, like being hit from behind by a driver who was speeding or not paying attention, here are some simple steps you can take to ensure you’re making every effort to arrive at your destination safely:

1. Look both ways, every time. Even when your light turns green, taking an extra moment to make sure the cross-traffic has stopped can mean the difference between having a good day and getting T-boned.

2. Use your turn signals. Driving down a Florida road, you may notice that many drivers seem to have broken blinkers. That is not the case! Signaling before you slow down to turn or switch lanes is important because it notifies the cars around you that you’re breaking the current flow of traffic. If they don’t know what you’re doing, they may make a similar maneuver at the same time that results in a crash.

3. Put the distractions away. Texting while driving is rightfully known to be a bad driving habit. But taking your eyes off the road and operating your phone in any way is equally distracting, and should be avoided.

4. Leave enough room. At any moment, the vehicle in front of you might suddenly stop. Maybe there’s an animal in the road or an accident that occurred just ahead. Regardless of the reason, you need to have enough room to safely brake without hitting them. As your speed increases, so does the amount of space you should leave between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

5. Avoid bad drivers. If you see someone texting, tailgating, inconsistently signaling, merging, driving aggressively, or any other behaviour that causes concern, let them go by. If you’re stuck in traffic near them, use extra caution until you part ways.