Tampa, FL 3/20/2012 3:47:03 AM
News / People

Florida Auto Insurance Reports

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Purchasing a new Florida auto insurance policy can cause you to think carefully about what could happen in the event of an auto accident.  The risks of being involved in an accident are present every time you drive a car in Florida, and the latest statistics issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles bears this out.  Their latest report is for 2007 and highlights some very interesting data relating to auto accidents and fatalities resulting from auto accidents.

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In 2007, there were 256,206 auto accidents, and the report indicates that there were about 702 accidents per day in Florida during 2007.  This information alone establishes the need for safe drivers in Florida as well as the need for quality Florida auto insurance coverage.

The statistics provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles are obtained from a crash database maintained by that department.  These figures are gathered and entered into the database by the law enforcement agencies that handle the accidents.  When an officer investigates an accident, a crash report is completed which includes information regarding injuries or deaths that occurred in the accident, as well as traffic infraction information such as involved persons leaving the scene, or if alcohol or drug use played a role in the accident.

Some of the figures from this report follow:

 • Drivers involved – 366,917

• Fatalities – 2,947

• Injuries – 212,149

• Accidents causing property damage only – 117,658

• Alcohol-related accidents – 22,823

• Drug-related accidents – 1,252

• Pedestrian accidents – 8,129

• Bicycle accidents – 4,847

• Motorcycle crashes – 9,205

The report indicates that young drivers were the most dangerous group and caused more accidents with more fatalities.  These drivers were aged from 15 to 19 years old.  21 year old drivers had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes involving alcohol.

Alcohol plays a significant role in traffic accidents in Florida.  In fatal accidents, alcohol was related in 38.6 percent of those crashes and nearly 9 percent of all traffic crashes were alcohol-related.

Seat belt use plays a significant role in the number of deaths and the facts show that wearing a seatbelt can save lives.  Florida data collection procedures segregate Seat Belt Equipped Vehicles (SBEV), and the data shows that 1,972 deaths occurred in SBEV’s. 

Of these deaths, a full 61 percent of people who were killed were not wearing seatbelts. Children are also more likely to be killed in traffic accidents when not using the proper safety equipment.  Of fatal accidents involving children 62 percent were not using safety equipment.

Florida Auto liability insurance is required by law in Florida, but quality insurance coverage should be obtained for your vehicle for financial protection in the event of an auto accident.  Be sure to select adequate limits to protect your assets.  The minimum liability limits in the state of Florida do not afford adequate protection for the average driver, so be sure to carefully discuss your options and select an agent or broker that has a proven track record.

About Edge Auto Insurance:

Edge Auto Insurance is your trusted source for reviewing, comparing, and purchasing the best auto policy in Florida.  To get the best news and information on the Web related to Florida auto insurance, please visit the Edge Auto Insurance Today, www.edgeautoinsurance.com  Consumers get the chance to view important terminology related to automobile insurance via our Florida auto insurance glossary of terms.  The power of information we offer consumers and clients will result in the best possible premiums for your coverage’s. Get a quote today!