Florida Among States With Highest Car Accident Fatalities
Florida drivers face some daunting new statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A study, out this week, found fatal car accidents are more likely to occur in the southern United States. Orlando and Miami were among cities with high car accident death rates. Perhaps not surprisingly, young drivers are most likely to die in automobile accidents in the US. As part of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC studied more than 34,000 car accident deaths (in 2009) and found 24% of those deaths were young people between the ages of 15 and 24. That’s about 11 deaths per 100,000 people. Researchers with the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, say the study did not look at causes of automobile accidents, but reasons for the high crash rates include young adults being more likely to engage in high-risk driving conditions, including texting while driving and driving with multiple passengers in the car. So, what can be done to reduce accident death rates in this young demographic? The study reports “graduated driver licensing policies” are very effective at lowering car accident death risks. These programs initially limit a teen’s independent driving, for example, requiring them to drive with an adult only, before progressing. Such a tactic can reduce car crash risk among 16-year-old drivers by nearly 16 percent. Another step is for parents to set the driving tone for safety. Parents should serve as a role model for good driving behavior. In some cases, safety experts recommend parents use a “teen driving agreement” in which parents outline the driving rules, the teen signs the contract, and as the teen gains more experience, he or she gains more driving privileges. For answers to all of your car accident questions, contact one of our experienced Florida car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein. Our legal team has offices in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Contact us at rubensteinlaw.com or call 1-800-FL-Legal (355-3425). The consultation is free.
