Traffic Safety Facts
Florida traffic crash data indicate that 20 counties account for 82 percent of the state's population, 86 percent of the state's traffic crashes, and 75 percent of the fatal crashes state-wide. Because of the wide variation in demographics and traffic conditions in these counties, it can be difficult to develop state-wide countermeasure programs that address the unique characteristics of local traffic safety problems.
Institutional barriers and funding constraints have seriously limited the ability of local governments to address these growing problems adequately. It has become increasingly apparent that public works and other city, county and state agencies must work in close coordination to contain costs and increase the efficiency of all highway safety program efforts.
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The Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) has been active in the support of Community Traffic Safety Teams. Each FDOT District has a CTST Coordinator who works closely with the Teams in their geographic area, and the Central FDOT Safety Office acts as a liaison to the District Coordinators. For a list of the Community Traffic Safety Teams in the State, including their routine meeting times and contact information, click on the appropriate FDOT district.
In Florida, the CTSTs are closely tied to Florida's Safety Management System (SMS) as a mechanism to address highway safety on all public roadways. Federal requirements for Safety Management Systems included a component where states should "coordinate and integrate broad-based safety programs (such as motor carrier, corridor, and community based traffic safety activities) into a comprehensive management approach for highway safety", and were required to extend coverage to all public roads.
Due to the common goals, objectives and interests of the statewide Community Traffic Safety Teams, the teams decided to form their own unique Coalition. The CTST Coalition holds quarterly meetings to share successes, safety materials and programs and to facilitate technology transfer among the CTSTs. As a tie to the Florida Safety Management System, the CTST Coalition Chairman is also an SMS Steering Committee Representative
Safety Belt Use Fact Sheet
* Source: "1999 Observational Survey of Safety Belt and Child Restraint Use in Florida"
* In 1998 there were 2,889 traffic fatalities and more than 241,000 injuries in motor vehicle crashes on Florida highways.
Over 59 percent of drivers who were fatally injured were not using available restraint systems.
* Estimates show that if Florida had a primary enforcement safety belt law, 200 lives would be saved and 6,134 injuries
prevented the first year. This represents $385.1 million in potential savings to taxpayers.
* According to a 1999 Florida survey*, use of child safety restraint systems ranged from a low of 45.3 percent in Marion
County, to a high of 83.7 percent in Volusia County.
* Traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults ages six to 27. Research also shows
that minority youth are at an even greater risk because they are less likely to be buckled up.
* In Florida, the highest safety belt usage was observed in women and men over 60 years of age, and the lowest use rates
were found in men driving light trucks, vans and cars.*
* Businesses pay the price at a cost of $22,000 per on-the-job crash, and $110,000 per injury due to lost productivity and
higher insurance and medical costs.
* The "top ten" Florida counties with the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities are Dade, Broward, Hillsborough,
Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Duval, Volusia and Seminole.
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