Florida In Summer Means Packed Beaches, But Which Beaches Feature The Most Accidents? With This Study, We Find Out
It’s summer in Florida, and that means millions of visitors. Every year, the Sunshine State attracts over a hundred million tourists, with a record-high 35 million visiting during the summer of 2024. (To put those figures in context: there are already 23.3 million full-time Florida residents.)
And while that mass influx of people is a good thing for the state’s coffers (2023’s record-number 156 million visitors brought in $131 billion), it also means many more cars on the road – and a high potential for accidents.
This study will determine which Florida beaches are the most accident-prone, who’s involved in the accidents, what’s causing them, and some potential ways to lower Florida beach accident rates.
Florida’s Most Accident-Prone Counties and Beaches
According to study data, every day in Florida, there are 1,000 car crashes, with tourism a key contributory factor. Florida features many beautiful beaches, tourist attractions, and diverse landscapes, all of which bring in many millions of people every year.
Peak travel seasons mean an influx of drivers unfamiliar with Florida’s roads in often tricky conditions. This leads to congestion and increases the risk of crashes, with many tourists distracted by GPS instructions, making abrupt lane changes, misjudging speed limits, and missing turns.
Tourist-heavy areas like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa see a significant spike in drunk-driving crashes during vacation seasons, with 25% of Florida’s fatal crashes in 2023 involving alcohol.
This recurring seasonal crash trend underlines how tourism, while vital to Florida’s economy, presents real challenges to road safety.
Beachgoers and Car Crash Numbers
In 2023, in Florida, there were 395,175 motor vehicle crashes, which caused 252,285 injuries and killed 3,396 people. 839 of those fatalities were due to drunk driving (25%, or 1 in 4), with 349 due to speeding (10.3%, or 1 in 10).
However, some parts of Florida suffer far more fatal motor vehicle accidents than others.
The above table, which shows the Florida counties that feature the most motor vehicle fatalities, also lists five Florida counties that feature the state’s most popular beaches.
From Clearwater to Miami Beach, Florida’s coastal escapes continue to be a big tourist draw. And many visitors don’t just visit once or head to one beach and then head home: they often visit multiple beaches, or repeat their beach trips over several vacation days, adding to the hundreds of millions of annual Florida beach visits.
With over 800 miles of shoreline, it’s no surprise that Florida’s beaches represent the broad centrepiece of the state’s booming tourist economy.
And there are always favourites: a recent Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort study reveals the following list of the most Instagrammed/visited beaches throughout Florida.
- South Beach (Miami–Dade County)
- Palm Beach (Palm Beach County)
- Clearwater Beach (Pinellas County)
- Daytona Beach (Volusia County)
- Panama City Beach (Bay County)
- Pompano Beach (Broward County)
- Sunny Isle (Miami–Dade County)
- Vero Beach (Indian River County)
- Deerfield (Broward County)
- Cocoa Beach (Brevard County)
Of those ten most popular beaches in Florida, seven are located in just five counties, all of which are among the top ten for motor vehicle fatalities.
The following five counties (which feature the five most popular beaches) accounted for 955 motor vehicle fatalities in 2023:
- South Beach
- Palm Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Pompano Beach.
These five counties (7.5% of 67 counties in total) featured 28.1% of the state’s motor vehicle fatalities, which means they represent an exceedingly and disproportionately dangerous group.
Gender and Age Range of Accident Victims
Of the fatality victims, 694 were male and 233 were female. Men are disproportionately involved in motor vehicle fatalities due to a combination of comparatively risky behavior and hours logged behind the wheel.
In terms of risky behavior, they’re far more likely to speed, drive aggressively, ignore their seat belt, and drive while under the influence, especially at night or on weekends.
And men drive significantly more miles on average and tend to favour higher-risk vehicles like trucks or motorcycles. Such habits inevitably lead to more severe crashes, including often deadly single-vehicle and rollover incidents.
Here’s a quick breakdown of fatality numbers by age range, with the most accident-prone at the top, and the least accident-prone at the bottom.
- 25-34 year old 175 fatalities
- 35-44 year old 140 fatalities
- 55-64 year old 132 fatalities
- 65-74 year old 107 fatalities
- 45-54 year old 106 fatalities
- 75+ year old 100 fatalities
- 16-20 year old 70 fatalities
- 21-24 year old 54 fatalities
Drivers aged 25 to 34 had the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities (175), due to a combination of long driving hours, riskier driving behavior, and plenty of late-night travel. This age group often balances busy work and social life, which can lead to speeding, distractions, and drunk driving.
Following closely behind is the 35 to 44 group (140 fatalities), who suffer similar problems to the 25 to 34 group, albeit to a lesser extent: long commutes, trying to combine social with work engagements, and fatigue. The 55 to 64 age group ranked next (132 deaths), with plenty of driving hours, and crash severity that’s exacerbated due to age-related changes in reflexes and general health.
Drivers aged 65 to 74 (107 fatalities) and 45 to 54 (106 fatalities) both feature significant driving fatality numbers: both age groups are still active on the road, and more vulnerable in crashes than younger drivers. Adults aged 75+ suffered 100 fatalities, despite driving less than other groups, largely due to increased frailty and slower response times.
Younger drivers 16 to 20 (70 fatalities) and 21 to 24 (54 fatalities) are both inexperienced and highly prone to risky behavior, yet keep fatality numbers down by covering comparatively low road miles overall. The lowest number of fatalities occurred among children under 16 (19 deaths), in almost all cases as passengers.
Accident-Prone Periods Across The Year
Across the five popular beach counties, March ranks as the deadliest month with 106 motor vehicle fatalities (likely due to Spring Break travel in mixed road conditions), followed by May (98), February (91), January (90), and April (85).
Fatalities continue to fall through November (81), December (78), and October (78). Mid-year months like July (75) and September (68) were lower still, while June (56) and August (49) suffered the fewest fatalities overall.
Main Causes of Car Accident Fatalities
Across all five major Florida counties, drunk driving is the leading cause of fatal crashes, with Miami-Dade reporting the highest number (73), followed by Palm Beach (56). Speeding ranks as the second leading cause, particularly in Miami-Dade (30) and Palm Beach (29), highlighting the prevalence of high-speed driving in urban areas.
Distracted driving is also a significant issue, despite accounting for fewer deaths overall. This is especially true in Volusia County: its 14 distracted driving fatalities nearly match its speeding fatalities total, suggesting a local problem with inattention at the wheel.
In contrast, Pinellas County had the lowest numbers across all categories but still reflected the same trend: alcohol-related crashes are the most deadly.
Overall, the data reveals that drunk driving is the most consistent and deadly threat across all five counties. When it comes to speeding and distraction, the numbers vary, depending on the particular region.
When Most Accidents Happen
In descending order, here are the hourly periods during which the most car fatalities occur.
- 10 – 10:59 pm (31 fatalities)
- 9 – 9:59 pm (29)
- 7 – 7:59 pm (29)
- 3 – 3:59 pm (29)
- 5 – 5:59 pm (25)
- 6 – 6:59 pm (25)
Four of the deadliest hours occur during the evening (6 PM – 10 PM), a period during which drivers tend to be most fatigued, more likely to be inebriated while at the wheel, and more likely to struggle with reduced visibility.
The one deadly afternoon hour (3 – 3.59 pm) is an interesting anomaly, and correlates with the onset of early rush hour, and a high level of distracted driving.
Getting To Your Florida Destination
When it comes to visiting Florida, specific highways are the major arteries pumping travelers straight into the heart of the Sunshine State.
Interstate 95 is a particularly popular route, stretching down the East Coast to facilitate beachgoer trips from New York, North Carolina, and Georgia into cities like Jacksonville and Miami.
Interstate 75 takes Midwestern travelers from Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia into Tampa and Naples. And Interstate 10, which cuts right across the South, delivers drivers from as far west as California right into Florida’s panhandle.
Such highways don’t just bring people into Florida: they define the road trip experience for millions heading from home towards some of America’s best beaches. And yet the success of that road trip in part depends on staying safe, which is much harder to do if you’re in charge of a potentially dangerous vehicle.
Accident-Prone Vehicles
Motorcycles (196 fatalities) are the most dangerous vehicles on Florida roads, with passenger cars (168) not too far behind. SUVs represent a significantly dangerous threat (64), with pickup trucks (35), vans (13), and large trucks (7) all notably dangerous. And the danger level may depend on the vehicle make and model.
The data confirms that Hondas are the vehicle brand/model most commonly involved in fatal crashes across the selected Florida counties, with 53 incidents involving popular models like the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and CBR motorcycle.
Toyota and Chevrolet are also high on the fatalities list with their widely driven Camry, Corolla, Silverado, and Malibu models.
The standout feature of the vehicle brand fatalities list is the significant presence of motorcycles. Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and BMW (which includes motorcycle models) collectively account for over 90 fatal crashes.
This emphasises the fact that motorcycles, despite featuring in far fewer numbers on the road, are heavily represented in fatal crash data, highlighting their vulnerability and risk.
Study data confirms that all the brands on the highest number of fatalities list are popular, and feature widely owned vehicles, which reflects how common usage correlates with crash involvement. And yet, the consistent appearance of motorcycles tells us that vehicle type and driver behavior, not just volume of vehicles on the road, are also key factors when it comes to fatality rates.
Motorbikes aside, the type of car someone drives can shape their driving behavior. For example, drivers of high-performance (sports cars) or luxury (premium SUVs) vehicles are statistically more likely to speed or take risks, which is at least partially due to the power, prestige, and repute associated with their ride.
Conversely, people driving family-friendly vehicles like minivans or sedans are more cautious and often prioritize safety over speed. Truck drivers may exhibit more aggressive behavior due to dominant vehicle size; fuel-efficient or eco-friendly drivers of hybrids and EVs have been shown to brake earlier and accelerate more smoothly, fulfilling a “conscious commuter” stereotype. In short, your car doesn’t just get you around—it tells us who you are.
Necessary Steps To Save Lives
While Florida’s world-renowned beaches present the perfect backdrop for vacation photos, they’re also home to some of the highest motor vehicle fatality rates in the state.
Counties like Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, Pinellas, and Volusia are famous for their sun-soaked coastlines; South Beach, Palm Beach, Clearwater Beach, Pompano Beach, and Daytona Beach lure millions of tourists onto their sands every year.
But these five counties also featured 955 (28%) of Florida’s 3,396 crash-related deaths in 2023. A combination of high tourist numbers, congested roadways, increased, condensed foot traffic, and nighttime social habits that overlap with peak drunk driving hours all contribute.
Add to these issues millions of visitors, often unfamiliar with the area, vying with local residents for road space in high-traffic zones, and it’s easy to understand the ongoing Florida crash risk. This is especially true during evening hours when visibility drops and alcohol-influenced driving increases.
Steps can be taken to save lives. Men – and it is predominantly a male issue – could curb bad driving habits, which include drunk driving and speeding. Distracted drivers might more often focus on the road instead of their GPS map or device.
And for those heading to one of Florida’s legendary beaches, a better appreciation of the most dangerous hours of the day on Florida roads, which may involve local residents yet to complete a long commute from work, would help.
Ultimately, there are many reasons to visit Florida’s beaches. There are also plenty of things to keep in mind so you and your passengers stay safe during your trip to the Sunshine State.
Here at The Schiller Kessler Group, we’re a Florida firm dedicated to helping those injured by the negligence of others. If this is you, get in touch with us today for immediate help.
