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Florida with its beautiful weather and scenery would seem the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful and safe bike ride. However, that is not the case. Over the years Florida has been ranked by the U. S. Department of Transportation as one of the most lethal states in the nation for bicyclists. In 2011 (most recent data) Florida had 6.56 bicyclist fatalities per million people.

"Bicyclists are vulnerable on Florida's roads. Drivers of motor vehicles are less vulnerable being surrounded by metal. It is the motor vehicle driver's responsibility to watch out for bicyclists and be prepared for the unexpected," said Fort Myers Bike Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The Florida Department of Transportation often ranks Southwest Florida in the top ten areas of the state for bicycle fatalities and crashes. The News-Press released the results of their 5-year study in March 2015 titled "Florida Bike Crashes: 7 Things That May Shock You". They reported that they analyzed five years of data on 1,400 Lee and Collier County bike crashes. They were unable to get complete data in many crashes, but they were surprised by what they did find.

Here's what the News-Press study found:

1. Lee County ranked third in the state for bicycle fatalities and crashes.
2. Advancing aged drivers are not typically involved in bicycle accidents. It is the 20- to 24-year-old drivers who came in first and then the 45- to 49-year-olds.
3. The leading cause of bike crashes was when motorists failed to yield to the bicyclists.
4. According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Florida was one of nine states that have fallen "dangerously behind" in the adoption of key highway safety laws.
5. The most common type of vehicle involved in accidents with bicyclists is the car, not pick-ups, SUVs or mini vans.
6. The penalties for being at fault in an accident that kills a bike rider or pedestrian in Florida are low. The maximum fine a judge may impose for a moving violation is $1,000 in the case of death along with other penalties, such as court costs according to the Lee County Clerk's office.
7. The annual economic cost in Florida for all motor vehicle-related crashes is about $12 billion.

There are ways to become involved in solutions to reducing the number of bicycle accidents in Southwest Florida. Below are some sources for more information which were shared with News-Press readers:

BikeWalkLee: www.bikewalklee.org or 472-1179

Naples Pathways Coalition: www.naplespathways.org or 777-7718

Share and learn about ideas to make the roads safer on The News-Press Facebook page, Share the Road Florida 

Fort Myers Bike Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.