According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, data shows that Leon County has considerably more crash reports than most Florida counties of a similar size.
In 2023, Leon County had 6,161 crashes in total, with 39 fatalities and 3,785 injuries sustained. There were also 1,845 hit-and-run crashes, with 6 fatalities and 354 injuries. There were 71 bicycle crashes with 2 fatalities; 100 motorcycle crashes with 7 fatalities; and 225 pedestrian crashes with 12 fatalities.
Seventy-seven percent of the crashes were investigated by the police department; 12% by the sheriff’s department; and 11% by Florida Highway Patrol.
In comparison, Alachua County had 5,018 crashes in total, with 60 fatalities and 3,337 injuries sustained. There were also 945 hit-and-run crashes, with 3 fatalities and 213 injuries. There were 101 bicycle crashes with 1 fatality; 81 motorcycle crashes with 2 fatalities; and 105 pedestrian crashes with 7 fatalities. 64% of the crashes were investigated by the police department; 7% by the sheriff department; and 29% by Florida Highway Patrol.
“Every time I read the news, there are always multiple accidents that have happened in one day. I know there are multiple reasons as to why accidents happen, but I just hope people start being more cautious and aware of the road. I believe that a lot of accidents will be avoided that way,” Uber driver Patrice Wells said.
Tallahassee drivers and pedestrians have been experiencing growing concerns regarding their safety. Throughout the year, pedestrian fatalities have grown just as well as vehicular fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida has consistently ranked among the top states for pedestrian deaths. This rise in accidents is considered a serious issue to tackle, and Florida A&M University and Florida State University have launched campaigns encouraging students to foster a safer environment for both pedestrians and drivers.
“We all just have to pay way more attention when we’re driving and raise more awareness around this issue,” FSU student Mason Lewis said.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, statistics show that the total number of accidents has been significantly lower than before the pandemic; most accidents occur between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturday is the most dangerous day to drive followed closely by Friday and Sunday while Thursday is the safest; October being the most dangerous month with summer and winter months tending to be safer than spring and fall. Drivers between the ages of 25-34 tend to be in the most accidents followed by drivers over the age of 65 while teen drivers have one of the highest rates of serious accidents. Also, most accidents occur at intersections due to improper lane departure, speeding and driving aggressively and/or drowsy.
FDOT suggests that drivers be extra cautious during their evening commute, as people are more likely to be in a rush or they may be distracted by their phone. Also, be very cautious at intersections and try to avoid I-10 and U.S. 319 during the busiest times of day.