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Safety
Florida citizens require a transportation system that is not only efficient, but most importantly, safe. Each year, Florida seaports, airports, highways and railways move to Florida more than 80 million visitors who join the state's 18 million residents. Unfortunately, thousands of lives are lost, thousands of injuries are suffered, and millions of dollars are spent as a result of traffic crashes on Florida’s roadways. Many of these are preventable through seat belt usage or through avoiding the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired.
Why Is This Important?
Transportation is a key to Florida's economic well-being through the movement of goods and services, bringing visitors to Florida attractions and getting Floridians to and from their jobs and schools each day. The need for safety is even more critical should an emergency be declared and millions of people would need to be moved in a very short period of time. Citizens and visitors want to know that the State of Florida is making destinations and transportation arteries as safe as possible.
Florida has over 121,000 miles of public roads and 15 million drivers with over 20 million registered vehicles. The growth of Florida’s motor vehicle traffic has resulted in an increased number of traffic law violations. These violations include driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, speeding, aggressive driving behavior, seat belt violations, and hazardous moving violations. These violations frequently lead to traffic crashes resulting in fatalities, injuries, and property damage.
How Is Florida Doing?
Florida saw a reduction in traffic fatalities, which saved 420 lives in 2009. Of the 2,563 fatalities, 1,555 were car and truck occupants (60.7 percent); 402 were motorcyclists (15.7 percent); 482 pedestrians (18.8 percent); 100 were bicyclists (3.9 percent); and 24 were “other” (mopeds, all terrain vehicles and trains (0.9 percent)). Alcohol-related fatalities decreased by 14.1 percent, saving 165 lives.
In 2009, Florida experienced 1,555 traffic deaths of drivers and passengers in Seat Belt Equipped Vehicles. Tragically, 59 percent of those killed were not wearing seat belts. The Florida Legislature passed the primary seat belt, effective June 30, 2009, which required all drivers and passengers to be secured with a seat belt. This law means law enforcement may now stop and cite drivers for the sole reason that someone is not wearing a safety belt. While the number of those killed is not acceptable, the number of deaths of drivers and passengers in Seat Belt Equipped Vehicles has decreased since the passage of this law.
Based on an analysis of vehicle miles traveled in 2009, Florida’s fatality rate dropped to 1.3 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, the lowest rate ever reported in the Sunshine State. The recent passage of the primary safety belt law, numerous education and awareness campaigns, and the strategic enforcement efforts of law enforcement throughout the state helped contribute to the fourth consecutive year in which both the number of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate have declined.
For calendar year 2009, the statewide safety belt use reached a record 85.2 percent passing the national safety belt use rate of 84 percent for the first time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates with the approval of its primary safety belt law, Florida will save 124 lives, prevent 1,733 serious injuries, and save $408 million in associated costs each year. Passage of the primary law means law enforcement can now stop drivers for the sole reason that someone is not wearing a safety belt. The Florida law was passed in 2009.
Florida has more than 11,000 publicly owned bridges in all areas of the state. Each one is inspected by the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) at least every 24 months. If an inspection reveals that a bridge is unsafe, the state closes the bridge. If a bridge needs to be restricted, DOT imposes weight limits.
Florida met its inspection requirement in fiscal year 2008-2009 by inspecting 5,645 bridges. During the same time period, a total of 115 bridges were under contract for repair or replacement.
Seaports bring people to and from Florida, along with millions of tons of cargo. Growing attention is being directed toward the safety of Florida's seaports. The United States Department of Homeland Security inspects port containers, including Florida ports. From October 2006 to September 2007, the most recent figures available, the Department was able to inspect 10.77 percent of Florida port containers.
Scorecard
What Influences Safety?
Highway and bridge safety can be influenced by quality of construction, age and available funds to maintain them. Investment in the best materials and design at construction are likely to lead to greater longevity for roads and bridges. Regular maintenance leads to longer lasting infrastructure and a quicker identification of potential problems.
Attention to security at seaports and airports will better protect Floridians and visitors to our state.
Highway safety is further influenced by road conditions, driver behavior, and law enforcement presence. In addition, technology, communications, education, design, investment, and the natural environment (including weather), play a role in highway safety
What Is the State's Role?
The state must request and allocate resources based on priority. Contractors must be held accountable by the state for the timely and efficient completion of projects. The state has every right – as the customer of the contractor – to require the same professional service that Floridians expect of the state.
The state has the primary responsibility for the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges. In addition, the Florida Department of Transportation maintains a number of safety programs for the public, department employees and all Floridians in the event of natural and man-made emergencies.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ Division of Florida Highway Patrol promotes a safe driving environment through proactive law enforcement, public education, and safety awareness. The Patrol’s first priority is to maintain safety on Florida’s highways. Troopers accomplish this through frequent patrol and enforcement of traffic laws by responding to, investigating and clearing the highway of traffic crashes, which provides for the safety of other drivers passing the scene, ensures the rapid treatment of the injured, and provides important data concerning causation factors for crashes. Troopers assist stranded motorists and those in need of assistance for medical emergencies while traveling the state’s highways.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also promotes safety on the highways by licensing qualified drivers, controlling and improving problem drivers, ensuring vehicle owners and operators are responsible for injuries and damages they may cause in a crash on Florida’s roadways, and maintaining records for driver evaluation. The Department manages the issuance of driver licenses through an examination process, ensures all drivers and their vehicles are properly insured, and enforces sanctions imposed for violation of Florida’s highway safety laws.
More information is available through the Department at:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/
Other safety tips are available through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol at:
http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp
Florida works together with the Federal government to provide safety for air and sea travelers and workers at airports and seaports.
For More Information
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Contact:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
at
(202) 282-8000
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On the Web:
http://www.dhs.gov
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