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WINK News, using data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, determined that the most dangerous roads in Charlotte, Collier and Lee Counties are: 

• Charlotte County and Collier County: US 41
• Lee County:

(1) US 41  from just over the Edison Bridge to just north of Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers

(2) State Road 82 from Daniels Parkway down to Sunshine Boulevard in east Lee County

• Lee County and Collier County: I-75 from Bonita Beach Road to Immokalee Road exits 

There were 558 crashes causing incapacitating injury or death in Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades and DeSoto Counties in 2014. 

The most common contributing factors in these crashes were: 

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Driving while intoxicated 

Dangerous roads do not just exist in Florida. The nation’s roads and highways indicate a nationwide trend. According to the data, there are far more Americans dying in road crashes every year than in almost any other wealthy nation in the world, when considering the number of deaths compared to population figures. Over the last five years, the number of Americans dying in vehicle accidents hovered at about 10.6 for every 100,000 Americans. This translates to about 40,000 each year. 

Do we need tougher laws nationwide? 

Thirty-four states have raised the speed limits on some of the major roadways since 1995. These same roads were, unfortunately, not designed for higher speeds. Fourteen states ban hand-held phone use by all drivers, and only twenty-one states have made alcohol interlocks required for all convicted drunk drivers. (Alcohol interlocks prevent a car from starting if the driver’s breath indicates an alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit.) 

Florida has aggressively targeted DUIs. 

Speeding: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says the maximum speed limit for any Florida highway is 70 mph.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, 325 people lost their lives in a speed-related accident in 2014. Speed alone increases the likelihood and the severity of a crash. 

Florida has increased fines and driver license points for those convicted of speeding. There has also been an increase in the use of radar devices and aircraft observation to measure speed and traffic-calming road and environmental design changes are also being implemented. 

Distracted driving: In Florida, there were more than 45,000 crashes caused by distracted drivers last year. Florida does not have a ban on cell phone use. However, it did institute a ban on texting while driving a year and a half ago with texting being a secondary offense, which means motorists must first be stopped for some other violation to be cited for texting while driving. 

DUI: Florida requires mandatory ignition interlocks for first-time drunk drivers convicted of a DUI with a BAC of .15 or greater as well as license suspension, open container laws, and repeat offender laws. 

Florida has implemented sobriety checkpoints and mass-media campaigns educating the public about the dangers of drinking and driving to prevent DUI. 

Despite all of the education initiatives, increased legal penalties, sophisticated detection devices and increased law enforcement initiatives that have been implemented in Florida, the numbers of traffic crashes continue to increase. Authorities say that drivers are not listening and following the warnings: 

1. Follow the speed limit.
2. Do not text and drive. Keep your eyes on the road.
3. Do not drink and drive. Stay sober or designate another driver. 

“To determine your rights should you be injured in an accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.,” said Naples Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey. 

Naples 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.