Ft. Lauderdale’s aesthetics and vivaciousness have compelled many people to consider it worthy of a vacation or to call it their new home; this massive appeal also means there is no shortage of vehicles traversing U.S. 1 and I-95. Consequently, vehicular accidents and fatalities are far from unheard of among motorists and pedestrians in the area. Too many drivers, be they local or visiting, become careless or even reckless while on their way to wherever they want to be and that disdain for caution leads to ruined bodies and vehicles.
Sadly, increased police patrols within the city and installing numerous signs to remind drivers to exercise vehicular caution has only had a negligible effect on the statistics behind hit-and-runs and drunk driving. Speaking of statistics, the remainder of this article will be spent explaining the findings of a recent study regarding accidents within Florida, Broward County, and Ft. Lauderdale between the years of 2019 and 2022.
State-Level Accidents
Florida’s overall motor vehicle accidents have remained relatively steady, and concerningly high, with a noticeable dip during the pandemic of 2020. Findings from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV) for 2022 saw over 396k collisions, contributing to nearly 252k injuries and over 3,500 roadway fatalities.
When compared to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 43k people lost their lives on American roads in 2022. Over the last two recorded years, the only states that saw more fatalities than Florida were California and Texas.
2022’s Car Accident Stats for Ft. Lauderdale
According to FLHSMV’s findings, 2020’s pandemic made a noticeable dent in 2019’s results yet 2021 saw those numbers bounce back. Some more depressing news is that fatality rates within Broward County failed to drop during 2020; fatalities have slowly risen in frequency over the past few years, only dipping down slightly in 2022. Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County saw 249 fatalities as a result of automotive crashes, costing 267 lives.
Hit-And-Runs in Broward County
Florida saw nearly 105,000 hit-and-run crashes in 2022, marking just how widespread the problem is across the state. FLHSMV reporting for Ft. Lauderdale noted 11,704 hit-and-run accidents in 2022, resulting in 42 fatalities. Drivers who keep driving after they strike someone often leave their victims in the difficult position of choosing between suffering, financial hardship to avoid death and medical issues, or even death if injuries are too severe to wait for help to arrive.
2022’s Drunk Driving Stats for Ft. Lauderdale
Drunk driving may be the one form of automotive tragedy that gets the most attention in Florida, yet awareness of this problem has done little to reduce how often it costs people their lives and/or insurance policies. According to FLHSMV, the state noted 5,241 intoxicated collisions in 2022, contributing to 416 fatalities and over 3k injuries.
Ft. Lauderdale saw over 190 alcohol-related vehicular accidents and Broward County lost seven lives to drivers who were operating under the influence of one or more substances. Surprisingly, 2022 saw the most accidents arising from drunk driving in the last five recorded years.
Thoughts on Ft. Lauderdale’s Automotive Accidents Beyond 2022
This city is a wonderful place to cruise in a car or on a motorcycle, set about on foot, or join a cycling tour. Despite these appealing activities, it is every motorist’s job to actively be aware of their surroundings and be mindful of their fellow motorists, cyclists using their dedicated lane, and pedestrians making use of a crosswalk. Hopefully, recent countermeasures will reduce statistics for such vehicular accidents in 2024 and onward.
