Florida, the Deadliest State for Bicyclists

The state that has the most bicycle related fatalities in the United States is Florida. An event in Tampa that was organized by an Austin personal injury attorney to raise bicycle awareness and safety in the state turned tragic when a stationary bicyclist was hit by an SUV. The county commissioner remarked that fatal car accidents resulting from vehicles has become an epidemic in the state.

Two years ago, 118 bicyclists were killed on Florida’s highways according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. According to the same department, 99 bicyclists were killed on highways during 2019. The 2019 amount resulted in a 16 percent decline of bicycle deaths in comparison to 2018. However, the number of bicycle accidents in 2018, 4,775, dropped by only one incident in 2019 to 4,774 bicycle accidents.

The Tampa bicyclist was on her way to a bicycle ride that had the purpose of honoring the deaths of five bicyclists who had recently lost lives. The woman was stopped at an intersection when a SUV ran a red light and hit a car going through the intersection. The SUV spun out of control and slammed into her. The woman became the sixth person in the area to lose her life in an accident involving an automobile since July 29.

The organizer of the riding event commented that area officials do not make bicycle infrastructure a primary prerogative. Sixty people turned out for the honorary ride. The county commissioner said that he would like to work with the event organizer on multiple ways to raise bicycle safety and awareness.