The holiday season that is bookended by the holidays of Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day represents one of the best times of the year for South Florida residents. The fall and early winter mean relief to the summer heat, while the holidays themselves represent an opportunity to gather with family and friends. Many Florida residents take advantage of the holiday season by getting out to shop and run errands, attend activities around town, or travel to see loved ones.
But with increased rates of drivers on the road comes an increased risk of auto accidents in South Florida. If you plan to be out driving this holiday season, which holiday, in particular, should you be most concerned about from a safety perspective?
Auto Accident Statistics on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2020 there were a total of 30,313 motor vehicle accidents in Florida during November and 31,698 accidents during the month of December. For Palm Beach County, there were 1,916 accidents in November and 2,082 accidents in December. Broward County experienced 2,935 accidents in the month of November, and another 3,082 accidents in December.
AAA reports that Thanksgiving rates as the most dangerous holiday during the season, with the Thanksgiving holiday defined as beginning the evening before Thanksgiving and stretching to the following Monday morning. However, Christmas often sees higher rates of fatalities in auto accidents.
Worst Roads for South Florida Drivers
Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties have some of the busiest highways in the state. These roads become even busier during the holidays and as a result, tend to see increased numbers of motor vehicle accidents. In particular, critical routes in South Florida that can become extra dangerous during the holidays include:
- I-95 through Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade
- Florida’s Turnpike through all three counties
- I-75 in Broward
- I-595 in Broward
Steps to Stay Safe on Florida Roads During the Holidays
Tips to remember to help stay safe and reduce your risk of being involved in an accident on Florida roads during the holidays include:
- Avoid distracted driving behaviors, especially talking or texting while holding your cell phone. If you need to use your phone, make sure to do so with a hands-free device, or pull into a rest stop or parking lot.
- Never get behind the wheel after having consumed alcohol or drugs. If you plan to drink at a holiday dinner or party, make a plan for getting home safely, such as having a designated driver, calling an Uber or Lyft, or staying overnight at your host’s home.
- If traveling long distances, leave extra early to give yourself time to get to your destination despite the traffic delays that are common to South Florida’s roads.
- If possible, try to avoid driving during peak travel hours over the holidays, including Thanksgiving Eve and Day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Also try to avoid driving late at night so as not to risk driving while drowsy or fatigued.
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Auto Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to an auto accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of car accidents in Miramar, Coral Springs, Davie, Boca Raton, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.