[KayakerNC]

"A full one-third of the cities in this list are in Florida. Why does Florida rank so badly? "

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/15-dange...r-driving.html

[l2ridehd]

My first trip to Florida was to the Ft Myers area. There were so many "old" people" on the roads driving so slow that I bet I saw a dozen accidents caused by them. Everyone was just poking along and others would try to pass or get out of there way and it was a nightmare. Then I went to Naples. And there I saw the parents of all the folks in Ft Myers.

[villagegolfer]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

My first trip to Florida was to the Ft Myers area. There were so many "old" people" on the roads driving so slow that I bet I saw a dozen accidents caused by them. Everyone was just poking along and others would try to pass or get out of there way and it was a nightmare. Then I went to Naples. And there I saw the parents of all the folks in Ft Myers.

LOL That was funny!!~~

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

My first trip to Florida was to the Ft Myers area. There were so many "old" people" on the roads driving so slow that I bet I saw a dozen accidents caused by them. Everyone was just poking along and others would try to pass or get out of there way and it was a nightmare. Then I went to Naples. And there I saw the parents of all the folks in Ft Myers.

This person is not kidding........I can assure you of that.

We often went to Naples when we stayed on Sanibel Island.
However, Naples is a beautifully laid out smaller city.....so worth the visit.

Venice and Sarasota were also bad as far as terrible drivers.

We were only 49 when we bought the condo on Venice Beach........but, one had to be careful out there, especially during what they called the "high season" with all the snow birds. Inattentiveness was the norm on the roads.
Not to mention pushing the shopping carts in the supermarkets.

[Uptown Girl]

One off the top of my head is, that when your driver's license is issued, it's good for 9 years. My stepdad is 86 and just had his renewed, so he's good to go until he's 95. Whoa!

Another one I've noticed in the many years I have been visiting Florida is that (except for TV) construction projects/road repair seem to take forever to get finished. That in itself can present hazards, especially if the driver is a visitor.

Then we have the people who are impaired in some way, either chemically or physically (ever see an elder driving while looking THROUGH the steering wheel because they are height deprived?) Or they forgot their eyeglasses?

How about those drivers who can't read the signs because they are all in English?
Or those who can't read at all? Most of them never GOT driver's licenses, so of course they don't know the rules of the road either.
(Lots of that on the Chicago expressways, too)

Couple that with those who just don't care about driving courteously, and those who are not focused in the moment for whatever reason.
I wonder if those numbers reflect the months when tourism is high.... that may be what takes it over the top.

[gmcneill]

not to mention the increased use of cphones, txting, video displays etc while driving

[2BNTV]

WOW - Ft. Lauderdale was #1.

My son lives in Ft. Lauderdale and is a careful driver. I drove in Florida for the first time last year and I made a comment when someone darted in front of the car to cross a street, (not at an intersection), in a totally unexpected manner.

"You think drivers in the New York area are bad, they drivers here are much worse". You always have to be on guard and expect the unexpected".

[Figmo Bohica]

Are turn signals an option on cars sold in Florida?

[villagegolfer]

Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica

Are turn signals an option on cars sold in Florida?

Yea, but they leave them on for miles and miles at a time.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica

Are turn signals an option on cars sold in Florida?

I dunno about FL but they might be in the tri-state area as some people I know complain that a lot of people don't use them.

[hedoman]

Florida residents are a compilation of all 52 states so the rate of accidents can't be blamed on any one state's notorius driving habits. Jacksonville, Orlando and Ft Lauderdale? Highly populated areas? Why isn't Philly, LA, New York on the list?

Florida doesn't have required vehicle inspections like the above states so could the root cause be the vehicles themselves failing? JMHO

[red tail]

Originally Posted by hedoman

Florida residents are a compilation of all 52 states so the rate of accidents can't be blamed on any one state's notorius driving habits. Jacksonville, Orlando and Ft Lauderdale? Highly populated areas? Why isn't Philly, LA, New York on the list?

Florida doesn't have required vehicle inspections like the above states so could the root cause be the vehicles themselves failing? JMHO

surely you dont want vehicle inspections again!!!!!!

[Pturner]

Shocked that Atlanta isn't on the list! The worse 15 must be off the charts. Also, not LA and NY?

[batman911]

Could be because of all the visitors Florida receives. People not familiar with the roads and distracted trying to find their way.

[billethkid]

In FL if you see a car at a cross street waiting to enter the road you are on...be careful....they pull out when they can finally see you!!!

Yes there should be discrimination in renewing drivers licences. Once past 80 they should be for no more than 2 years...and require vision and reaction testing. It is one of the last freedoms many of us aging want to ever give up.
Family and friends can make it work more effectively by encouraging the "impaired" to not drive. You may save their life at a minimum and others as well.
I would be among the first to complain to have to do it...but would vote for it!!

I know I had to work at it long and hard and unpleasantly at times to get the keys from my mother when she was 89.


btk