Seeing Red: Group Offers Best Ideas to Avoid Florida Car Accidents
Every year, The Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety grade all 50 states on the safety of their roads. The grade is made up of an overall score based on five different categories: Child Passenger Safety, Teen Driving, Occupant Protection, Distracted Driving and Impaired Driving.
The overall score is graded on a color spectrum: Green (Good), Yellow (Caution) and Red (Danger). So how did Florida do? Not so well.
The Florida report is in, and the results are alarming
According to the report, Florida, once again, received a red rating. Danger. Why the poor rating? The report states that “states that earn a red rating lag seriously behind when it comes to adopting advocates’ recommended laws.”
The Advocacy group has recommended a collection of 16 laws for each state to make their highways safe. Of these 16 laws, Florida currently has 5. Here are some of the other safety laws that the advocacy group recommends Florida implement:
- All motorcycle riders must wear a helmet. Florida permits riders over the age of 21 and who have at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage to ride without a helmet.
- Rear-facing car seats and stricter booster seat use. Studies have shown that children under the age of two are safer when their car seat is rear-facing, that is, when they are facing the backseat and not the windshield
- Greater age restrictions for teen drivers. Other states with green ratings place more restrictions on teen drivers - such as driving curfews and passenger restrictions.
- Harsher restrictions on cellphone use and other distractions while driving. The dangers of texting and driving have been well documented. Yet that doesn’t stop many Floridians from doing it anyway. With the help of stronger laws, they could help decrease distracted driving rates, making the roads safer for everyone.
The advocacy group believes if Florida adopts the other 11 safety laws, the state can earn a green rating.
Seeking legal representation after a crash
Florida can do better. Roads in the Sunshine State do not have to be nearly as dangerous as they currently are. By creating and implementing stronger highway safety laws, the state can greatly decrease the risk of being injured in a crash in Florida.
If you or a loved one was involved in an auto accident in Florida, contact West Palm Beach auto accident attorney David J. Glatthorn, P.A. today.
