Many factors including weather conditions and mechanical problems lead to accidents on Florida roadways. It is no secret that bad driving causes a large number of problems, resulting in many preventable injuries and deaths.
Information from 2020 reveals drivers engaged in several dangerous activities that ranged from reckless driving to fleeing from authorities.
A look at traffic citations in Florida
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in its 2020 traffic citation report, shows that DUIs remained a large problem in the state. Law enforcement agencies recorded just over 37,000 violations in this category. The courts entered a guilty verdict for just under half of these criminal citations, though a large number of cases remain pending in the court system.
Fleeing authorities and leaving the scene of an accident amounted to just over 18,000 registered violations. A much lower percentage of these violations led to guilty judgments and a somewhat higher number saw an adjudication with a judge. Drivers engaged in two other dangerous activities, reckless driving and racing on the highway, received just under 6,600 citations.
A large number of violations for license violations
The largest category of criminal traffic violations issued in 2020 fell under the category of driving with a suspended license or failing to have appropriate vehicle registrations papers. Expired tags also resulted in many citations, while traffic authorities issued a smaller number of citations for failing to follow restrictions listed on the driver’s license.
While some violations might seem innocuous, they could still lead to unsafe roads. A person with a suspended license or who drives without the legally required eyewear could pose higher risks for other users of Florida roadways.
