Because of the mild weather, we get throughout the year and the abundance of world-class attractions, Florida has a lot of motor traffic on its streets and highways. Some of this is people driving to work, people who drive for a living, such as truck drivers hauling freight, or visitors from other countries renting cars.
With that much traffic, the chances for an accident go up, especially when factored in with people who may be used to driving on the opposite side of the road in their home country. But there are certain areas where the chance of traffic accidents is higher than others.
Here are some of the common hotspots that people should be aware of.Stoplights
A common accident at stop signs is people getting rear-ended by drivers behind them. This is often due to drivers incorrectly estimating how much time they need to come to a halt at a stoplight intersection. If, for example, you are slowing down, but the driver behind you was not expecting you to do so at this point, they might not have the reaction time required to maintain a safe distance from you.
Other accidents, such as people trying to accelerate a yellow light to avoid a red light, also make stoplight areas hazardous. Perhaps the most common stoplight accident is drivers in a hurry to make a left turn, not checking for pedestrians or other vehicles in their rush.
Parking Lots & Garages
Fortunately, driving in a parking lot or other parking shelter typically involves low speeds. So while serious injuries are less likely here, there’s still the potential for property damage to the vehicles themselves. “Fender benders” happen the most often in these areas, as people back out from a parking space just as another car is passing.
It’s easy to see how there are many more blind spots in a parking situation. Much of the field of view is obscured by other vehicles, and all it takes is a moment of inattention while looking for a free spot to miss a car backing out and into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Two-Lane Rural Roads
This may be surprising to some, but statistically speaking, many fatal accidents occur on small, two-lane rural roads, especially straightaways at night. One of the reasons for this is that an empty stretch of straight highway often lulls people into a false sense of security. If an animal suddenly appears crossing the road, that decreased state of alertness can sometimes mean the difference between stopping in time and a severe collision.
Another primary reason for accidents on these roads is speeding. Many drivers will break the speed limit on these empty, straight stretches of road because they know there’s less risk of being monitored and ticketed by police. Unfortunately, driving at high speeds—even without a police response—still carries risks in the form of most drivers lacking the reflexes to handle emergency maneuvers at higher speeds.
Within Five Minutes Of Home
Unfortunately, one of the most common places for traffic accidents to occur is usually just a few miles from home. A lack of caution and alertness is the usual culprit in these areas. Because people are so familiar with the landscape near their home, they tend to be less defensive in their driving in these areas.
This can, however, lead to a reduced response time when the unexpected happens, which is still just as likely here as anywhere else. Children running into the street, dogs off-leash, and even people backing out of their driveways are all still possible risks here.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in one of these areas, and it’s not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to a car accident lawyer about your situation.
