Florida Drivers Reclaim Title … As Nation’s Worst

In the same week that Floyd Mayweather reclaimed his title as a national champion, drivers in the Sunshine State reclaimed a title of their own: the worst drivers in the country. As our Delray Beach personal injury lawyers at Aronberg & Aronberg know, an annual ranking of “States with the Worst Drivers” released by SmartAsset has listed the State of Florida as #1 in this unflattering category.

To be sure, as our Aronberg Legal Team Lawyers know, this “high rank” will likely come as no surprise to many, particularly those who have spent some time driving on our roads and highways. The rankings specify further that “Floridians google ‘speeding tickets’ and ‘traffic tickets’ more than any other state. They also have the second lowest number of insured drivers in the nation.” Some other noteworthy findings from the study include that just 76.20% of Florida’s drivers are insured; there are 4.45 DUI arrests per 1,000 drivers; and that there are 0.13 vehicular-related deaths per 1,000 drivers in Florida. Florida, in the unfortunate #1 spot is followed by Mississippi at #2, Oklahoma at #3, and New Jersey at #4. (For full listings, see the results here.)

Past Worst Driver Awards

This report was not totally unanticipated. Last year, Florida was crowned the state with the worst drivers in the nation. Then, in April of this year, Florida ranked #2 in a study of the nation’s most distracted drivers. Nevertheless, our Car Crash Lawyers know that the findings are problematic. At our firm, we often represent those who have been injured due to the negligence or recklessness of others. Dangerous driving, as you might expect, leads to dangerous road conditions, and that results in car accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

In light of this finding, now is as good a time as ever to keep in mind safe driving habits. Below, our Specialists in Injury Law have explored a couple of safe driving tips.

Be a Defensive Driver

Your safety on the road is not solely dependent on your abilities as a driver. You must always assume that other drivers on the road might do something erratic, and you have to be ready to act defensively to avoid a collision. Further, you have to be ready for other types of disasters; perhaps the wooden planks on the pick-up truck in front of you might fly off and head directly toward you. Our Team of Lawyers know that leaving at least 4 car-lengths between your vehicle and the car in front of you can go a long way in making you safer. As you travel faster, try to increase that distance.

Be Focused

Focus on the road! Beyond making sure that you do not drive after having consumed alcohol or other intoxicants, it’s imperative to not be otherwise distracted while you’re driving. That means no texting, e-mailing, web-surfing, radio channel changing, etc. while you’re behind the wheel. You always have to remain focused on the road ahead of you and around you. This applies every when you’re at a red light, as our Injury Attorneys know. If you’re texting with your head down while you’re sitting at a red light, you might not see, for instance, a drunk driver heading right toward you that you would’ve otherwise been able to avoid.

If you have any questions about this new report, or about any other personal injury issue, please contact our Delray Beach Team of Lawyers at Aronberg & Aronberg. To schedule a free consultation, please call 561-266-9191. With offices in Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Wellington, we are ready and able to assist you.

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