Jacksonville has the unfortunate distinction of being named as the deadliest city for drivers in all of the U.S.A. In 2016 alone, there were approximately 395,532 vehicular accidents that occurred in the state of Florida, which is a 43% increase from 2014. All of these accidents could have been avoided, and if you don’t want to pay a visit to a criminal defense attorney Jacksonville, FL firm then here are some important things you need to know.
The Third Most Dangerous Highway
I-95 has been ranked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the third most dangerous highway in the entire country. It is topped only by Texas’ I-45 which ranks second and California’s Route 99 which ranks first. This ranking was created by the NHTSA by looking at the total number of accidents that took place on each highway in comparison to the mileage between 2011 and 2015. 55.1 fatal accidents occurred on I-95 which ranks third in the United States.
Jacksonville is right along I-95 and had 63 fatal accidents all within the same time period. Records show that some of the most common causes of these accidents in Jacksonville’s Duvall County are alcohol, distracted drivers, and speeding. 2016 saw Duval County rack up a staggering 35,587 speeding violations and 2,997 DUI violations.
And There’s More
That’s not all though as an additional 12,472 violations were recorded for reckless driving and 15,671 for running red lights. With all of these violations, you can bet that a lot of criminal defense lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida were pretty busy.
Drunk or distracted drivers cause thousands of accidents, injuries and deaths in Florida each year. Even something as simple as a daily commute going to work or school could become a life-threatening experience should you ever encounter one of Jacksonville’s reckless drivers.
What is Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving is any act or behavior that can put others in danger while on the roadway. Things like tailgating, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and even suddenly hitting on your brakes are all considered acts of reckless driving. Anyone who engages in reckless driving has already cut his/her reaction time in half, making it difficult to avoid potential hazards on the road.
In the state of Florida, reckless driving is considered a serious criminal offense that carries some harsh penalties. Florida statute 316.192 defines reckless driving as any person who operates a motor vehicle with a wanton or willful disregard for others’ safety.
Keeping Safe While Driving in Jacksonville
If you’re going to be driving on I-95, make sure to do so with safety being your main priority. Here are some helpful tips that will keep you, your passengers and your fellow drivers safe on the road:
- Don’t speed. Speed limits are there for a reason, so be sure to stick to them and don’t leave the slow or middle lane unless you’re about to pass another car. Speeding can turn deadly if you hit a pothole, lose a tire, or hit another vehicle/object.
- Keep a safe distance. While on the highway you should always remember to keep a safe distance between you and the car in front and behind you. Giving yourself more room on the road will make it easier for you to maneuver and prevent rear-end collisions from happening.
- Do not drive with distracting passengers. You need to be focused while driving on the road, especially if you’re in the middle of heavy traffic. Some drivers can manage to keep their eyes on the road while talking with their passengers. However, if you’re unable to do this, then you’ll need to make your passengers know about it so that they won’t talk to you too much unless your vehicle is completely stopped.
- Don’t text while driving. Florida has some stringent rules when it comes to texting while driving as it is considered illegal. However, the law still allows drivers to talk using hand-held devices.
- Be mindful of your surroundings. Being aware of your surroundings plays a significant role in preventing reckless driving accidents from happening. Briefly look at your rearview and side mirrors once every 10 seconds and be aware of where other vehicles are on the road in relation to yours. Don’t change lanes without checking for blind spots first, and use your peripheral vision to see if there are any speeding cars headed towards you.
Conclusion
Ask any criminal lawyers Jacksonville, Fl. office about the dangers of driving in this city and they’ll you that you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of getting involved in a car accident than any other place in the country. However, this doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to become a statistic. Avoid reckless driving accidents by obeying Florida traffic rules and use defensive driving practices whenever you can.
If you ever find yourself getting involved in reckless driving accidents, head to https://jamesdavisdefense.com/ to get a reliable criminal defense attorney who can see you through.