Accident Statistics in Land O’ Lakes

Every day, we get into our vehicles and drive to work, school and everywhere in between. And every day, someone somewhere gets into an auto accident. This isn’t something we like to think about, but it’s true. That’s why it’s more important than ever to practice safe driving habits like defensive driving and avoiding distracting while driving. Auto accidents can have serious consequences and we should all do our best to avoid them.  

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles agrees. The department is committed to providing drivers and passengers with the safest possible driving environments. And each year the department gathers information from traffic crash reports to create a master report of all accidents in the state of Florida. The report includes statistics for each county as well.  

Florida Accident Statistics

Some of the statewide trends from 2010 to 2011 were positive including:

• Fatalities as a result of traffic crashes on Florida roadways decreased between 2010 and 2011 by almost 2%, going from 2,444 to 2,400 respectively.
  
  
• Over the past six years, fatalities have dropped every year from 2005 with 3,533 to 2011 with 2,400, which is a 32% reduction.
  
  
• State Mileage Death Rate (the number of death rates per 100 million miles traveled) is 1.25 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in2011, which is the same as last year and is the lowest since the rate has been calculated.

  Unfortunately, the report also found some negative trends:

• Motorcyclists and passenger fatalities increased between 2010 and 2011 by approximately 18% from 383 to 451 respectively.
  
  
• Bicyclist fatalities increased between 2010 and 2011 by almost 58% from 76 to 120 respectively.
  
  
• Fatalities of teen drivers and passengers increased between 2010 and 2011 by 7% from 145 to 154 respectively.

Pasco County Traffic Statistics

When we look at Pasco County specifically, the report indicates both positive and negative trends as well.  

First, the good news:

• Alcohol Related/Suspected Crashes dropped from 417 in 2010 to 406 in 2011
  
  
• Fatalities dropped from 75 in 2010 to 64 in 2011
  
  
• Alcohol related fatalities dropped from 26 in 2010 to 19 in 2011

  Some of the negative trends include:

• Traffic crashes showed a slight increase in 2011 from 5,576 to 5,610.
  
  
• Motorcycle fatalities rose from 13 in 2010 to 18 in 2011

Driving Safety

As you can see, the number of traffic crashes in Pasco County rose to 5,610. For the sake of argument, let’s assume the same number of crashes will occur again this year. That’s 5,610 opportunities for someone to get seriously injured or killed. The next time you get into a vehicle, make sure you take safety precautions to best avoid an accident. The leading cause of crashes in the United States is distracted driving. Distracted driving includes things like: reaching for something; reading and writing; applying makeup and grooming; dialing a number on the phone; texting; and more. Stay focused, keep your eyes on the road, watch for motorcyclists and bicyclists, and always wear your safety belt. Read more about the causes of car crashes.  

Contact an Auto Accident Attorney

We hope that you are never involved in an auto accident. But if you are, we will be here for you. If you or a loved one has already been in an accident, call an experienced auto accident attorney at the Lowman Law Firm for a free consultation. We understand the serious nature of auto accidents and will represent you and your case. There are no fees or costs unless we are successful. Call now!