In a place known for warm Winter getaways, Florida’s highways deliver a chilling dose of danger near Christmas.
The Utah-based personal injury law firm of Steele Adams Hosman conducted a study of the most dangerous roads for travelers at Christmastime using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. The study ranked Florida as the fourth-most dangerous.
Looking at data spanning Dec. 21 to Dec. 28 between 2014 to 2023, the study found Florida recorded about 16.48 car-crash deaths per 1 million residents annually. That’s 54.62% higher than the average among U.S. states.
In total, 355 road fatalities were posted in Florida in that decade. In terms of raw numbers, that’s more than double than any state listed in the top 10 and more than triple most of those states. But Florida also has a much bigger population than any of those states.
“As we enter the busiest travel period of the year, drivers need to be especially mindful of safety,” said Justin Hosman, a partner at the Steele Adams Hosman firm. “Whether you’re traveling across the country or just across town, staying focused, driving sober, and eliminating distractions can help ensure everyone reaches their destination safely.”
Out of Florida’s fatalities on the road surrounding Christmas, 57.51% were drivers, which ranks 28th in the nation. Another 20.96% were pedestrians, landing Florida 15th in the nation in that respect.
The five most deadly states for road travel during the Christmas holiday were all in the Southeastern United States. Mississippi was at the top, followed by Louisiana in second, Alabama in third and South Carolina in fifth.
Southern states made up most of the top 10, with Georgia at No. 7, Arkansas at No. 9 and Oklahoma at No. 10.
