Intersections across the state of Florida are extremely common locations for accidents to occur. When drivers do not yield or they fail to follow traffic signals, it places other drivers at a higher risk of serious injuries and sometimes even death. One of the top reasons for an intersection-related accident is a failure of a driver to stop when there is a red light.
What are the Most Common Causes of Intersection Related Accidents in Florida?
While there are many causes of intersection accidents in Florida, the most common are as follows:
- Driving while distracted. Talking on a cellphone, text messaging, emailing, eating, talking with passengers, and multi-tasking all lead to driver distraction, which is likely to cause an accident at an intersection where the driver is not paying attention.
- Driving while tired. According to recent studies, drivers that are tired may be equivalent to drunk drivers due to slowed reaction time.
- Intersections that are poorly designed. Some intersections tend to be more dangerous than others, especially when they are poorly designed, which could lead to impaired visibility.
- Speeding. Under Florida Statute 316.183, it is illegal to go above the posted speed limit. For those who speed, especially through intersections, this could result in serious and sometimes fatal accidents. This is because at higher speeds, it is harder to brake in time to avoid hitting other drivers in an intersection.
- Impaired driving. Under Florida Statute 316.193, it is illegal to operate a vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 percent or greater. Drivers who are impaired due to drugs and/or alcohol have reduced response times, leading to the potential for accidents to occur at an intersection.
Source: Florida Statute 316.183, Florida Statute 316.193
