Fort Walton Beach Personal Injury Law Blog

Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians, according to one study by Smart Growth America highlighting metropolitan areas that pose a particular threat to walkers. In fact, eight of the top 10 pedestrian-unfriendly cities in the country are located in the state. The survey brings together statistics about pedestrian fatalities, walking rates and other issues to compare various regions. The five most dangerous cities on the list were Orlando, Daytona, Palm Bay, Sarasota and Lakeland.

The only non-Florida cities leading the group were in California and Mississippi. However, while Florida statistics were particularly troubling, the report pointed to increasing threats to pedestrian safety across the country. The number of pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes rose by 35 percent across the country from 2008 through 2017. During that period, nearly 50,000 people lost their lives while walking, around 13 people every day for the full decade. Indeed, pedestrians now make up a greater share of the total number of people killed in car crashes. In 2008, pedestrians constituted 11.8 percent of all roadway fatalities, but by 2017, that number was 16.1 percent.

Florida readers may be concerned to learn that fatal large truck crashes have increased in every state except six over the last eight years, according to a new report by Road Safe America. As a result, the organization is pushing the federal government to pass laws requiring the use of speed limiters and automatic emergency braking systems in commercial trucks.

Road Safe America researchers analyzed federal crash data from 2009 until 2017 and found that 35,882 people were killed in big rig accidents during that time. The number of deaths went up even though the total number of miles driven by large commercial trucks went down over the same period. In 2017, the states with the highest number of big rig-related deaths were Texas, California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Between 2009 and 2017, the states with the highest percentage increase in fatal big rig crashes were Washington, Idado, Colorado, Texas and Nevada.

Traffic accidents take thousands of lives every year in Florida and across the United States. Nationwide, over 100 people are killed in roadway crashes every day, a number that points to a serious public concern about highway safety. As a result of these disturbing statistics, the National Safety Council has launched a new project, the Road to Zero Coalition, aiming to achieve zero traffic fatalities by 2050. While coalition spokespeople said that achieving zero deaths in car accidents may seem to be an impossible dream, they noted that setting the goal may play an important role in achieving a significant reduction in deaths.

The transportation safety project includes 675 members from different aspects of society, including government, safety researchers, trucking companies and industry associations. It released a report outlining ways to achieve its ambitious traffic safety goals. The coalition's formation was also prompted by the fact that car accident fatalities have been increasing after several years of decline. In 2016, the number of people who lost their lives in crashes rose by 5.6 percent, reaching 37,461. In addition to the increase in fatalities linked to passenger vehicles, large commercial trucks were also involved in a growing number of fatal crashes.In 2016, there was a 5.4 percent increase in trucking accident deaths, reaching a total of 4,317. The vast majority of these deaths involved the occupants of other, smaller vehicles. The coalition recommends a number of practices to increase roadway safety, including improving seat belt compliance and accelerating the use of advanced safety technologies.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention and impulsivity. These core symptoms can interfere with one's driving, which is why ADHD patients tend to run a high risk for car crashes. Florida motorists should know about a study published in JAMA Psychiatry back in 2017 that shows how ADHD medication can help lower that risk.

Data included the health insurance claims, spanning the years 2005 to 2014, of more than 2.3 million people aged 18 and older who were diagnosed with ADHD. More than 1.9 million had received at least one prescription for ADHD medication. Researchers compared the number of crash-related emergency room visits that occurred when drivers were medicated to the number when no prescription had been filled.