For a state known for warm winter getaways, Florida’s roads are delivering a much colder reality this holiday season.
A new study shows Florida ranks among the most dangerous states in the country for drivers around Christmas.
While many families are hitting the road to celebrate the holidays, new data shows that the stretch right before Christmas can be one of the deadliest times to drive in Florida.
A review of national crash data found Florida ranked fourth among the most dangerous states for road travel during the Christmas holiday.
Looking at the week between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28 over nearly a decade, Florida averaged about 16.5 crash deaths per million residents each year, which is more than 50% higher than the national average.
In total, 355 people lost their lives on Florida roads during that holiday window—more than double any other state in the top 10.
Experts point out Florida’s large population plays a role—but say the risk is still very real, especially with increased traffic and long-distance travel.
More than half of those killed were drivers, while about 1 in 5 were pedestrians, placing Florida among the higher-ranking states for pedestrian deaths during the holidays.
“Studies have found that 94% of all crashes occur due to human behavior, so if we can address the human element, we can make our roads safer,” said Hampton Ray, community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation. “It’s not just about engineering—we can engineer the safest roads in the world, but if our drivers aren’t driving safely and making safe decisions, then we’re never going to have our roads as safe as they need to be.”
FDOT says slowing down, staying focused, and never driving impaired can significantly reduce the risk, especially during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.