There Were Fewer Traffic Accidents in Florida in 2008
A recent report showed that there were fewer auto accidents in Florida in 2008 and fewer people were dying as a result of auto accidents in Florida, according to an article on News4Jax.com. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reviewed auto accident statistics and issued a report regarding traffic accidents in Florida.
Some of the highlights of the report which were cited in the article include: there were fewer deaths from traffic accidents in 2008 than any other year since 2000, the number of deaths per 100 million miles traveled in Florida was the lowest since the state has been reporting that statistic, accidents caused by drivers who had been drinking declined, although they still account for approximately 40% of deaths from traffic crashes and deaths of motorcyclists and pedestrians also decreased in 2008.
It is likely that gas prices and the economy contributed to the better auto accident numbers in 2008. As gas prices rise and the economy worsens, people will drive less. However, the article notes that 2008 was the consecutive third year that auto accident deaths decreased in Florida so there may be some more permanent factors that can sustain these results such as safer vehicles and better educated drivers.
