What Are Pensacola’s Most Dangerous Intersections?

Image courtesy of Pensacola News Journal

According to the City of Pensacola, a new graph illustrates a tally of the total number of crashes that occurred at nine Pensacola intersections between 2014 and 2022. These numbers show significantly fewer crashes in 2020, likely due to stay-at-home measures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Intersections are a prime place for an automobile accident to occur. More than 50% of the combined total of fatal and injury crashes occur at or near intersections.

An estimated 165,000 accidents occur annually at intersections caused by red-light runners. Fatalities caused by red-light runners range from 700 to 800 a year.

An estimated 165,000 accidents occur annually in intersections caused by red-light runners. Fatalities caused by red-light runners run from 700-800 a year.

Pensacola In Top Ten of Florida’s Most Deadly Intersections

According to Speedwaymedia, the following were the ten most deadly intersections in the state of Florida as of July, 2022.

1. Dixie Highway and Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale – Eight fatalities occurred just in 2017 at this intersection. This made the particular intersection the most lethal in Broward County.
2. Hillsborough Avenue and Fletcher Avenue in Tampa – Since 2012, this intersection has seen fifteen deaths and thirty-six total injuries. It is considered one of the most dangerous areas in Hillsborough County.
3. Highway A1A in Fort Pierce – Fort Pierce has been a hot spot of accident activity for some time. It has seen seven fatalities since 2016.
4. Jefferson and Palmetto Boulevards in Palm Beach – One of the most dangerous locations in all of Florida, this intersection saw fifteen deaths in 2016 alone
5. South Dixie Highway – This area is considered highly dangerous due to the high volume of traffic which it sees on a regular basis.
6. Brickell Avenue and Southwest 2nd Street in Miami – This is one of the deadliest intersections in Miami-Dade County. It saw five deaths in 2016 and it has continued to see a slew of accidents since then.
7. Pensacola Boulevard and Fairfield Drive in Pensacola – A lack of traffic lights is credited as being one of the reasons why this intersection has seen five deaths and thirty-one injuries.
8. North Federal Highway – This intersection has no traffic lights or other traffic regulating mechanisms. As a result, it was credited with eight fatalities in 2016.
9. Flamingo Road and Stirling Road in Pembroke Pines – This intersection saw twenty-one injuries in 2012 and is credited for eleven deaths.
10. Alton Road and Dade Boulevard in Miami – This intersection saw fifteen deaths in 2017. This included two accidents which were only separated by one day.

Pensacola’s Most Dangerous Intersections

Number of crashes between 2014-2022

Source: City of Pensacola

What Types of Accidents Occur at Intersections?

Running through red lights, rear-ending other drivers, and cutting off other drivers while making a left turn can result in serious accidents at intersections. The following are some of the most common types of accidents that occur at intersections:

Side-Impact or T-Bone Collisions: This type of accident occurs when the front of a vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle, usually at about a 90-degree angle. The occupant on the passenger side of the vehicle that was hit often sustains very serious injuries because there is no barrier protecting them from the impact of the crash. These accidents often happen when a motorist fails to yield to the right-of-way, runs through a red light, is distracted, or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Head-On Collisions: These are some of the most devastating accidents that often result in fatalities, particularly when the vehicles were traveling at a high speed at the time of the crash. They occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the front of another vehicle. At intersections, these usually occur when a motorist makes an illegal left turn.

Left-Turn Accidents: These occur when a vehicle that is making a left turn gets into an accident with a vehicle that is going straight through the intersection. In most cases, the driver making the left turn is liable for the accident since he or she must yield to the motorists who are driving straight through the intersection.

Rear-End Collisions: These are the most common type of accident, resulting in 1.7 million accidents, approximately 1,700 fatalities and 500,000 injuries each year. They usually occur when a driver is tailgating another motorist or is not paying attention to his or her surroundings. For example, a rear-end collision can occur at an intersection if a motorist fails to slow down in time to avoid hitting a car that is stopped at a red light.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION.

1. Call the police and file a report
2. Swap information (including any insurance info they may have)
3. Gather details
4. Take pictures
5. Gather contact information of any witnesses
6. Seek medical care immediately for any injuries – no matter how minor you think they might be.

Get more helpful information on what to do after an accident here at our “Car Wreck Checklist” >

Joe Zarzaur is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney whose firm is dedicated to promoting community safety since 2007. ZARZAUR LAW’S AREAS OF PRACTICE: Serious Personal Injury, Product Defect, Auto Accidents, Cycling Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Products Liability, Wrongful Death, Community Safety, Boat and Jet Ski Accidents, Slip and Fall Injuries, and more. Licensed in Alabama and Florida.

It is also important to consult with a Board Certified Trial lawyer who has the knowledge and experience to help you. We know accidents can be stressful and want to make the process as easy as possible for you. Call Zarzaur Law, P.A. today at (855) Hire-Joe for a free legal consultation or visit www.zarzaurlaw.com.

If you’ve been the victim of an auto accident, it’s important that you don’t make any rash decisions. Put yourself in the best possible position to receive the justice you deserve. It is also important to consult with a Board Certified Trial lawyer who has the knowledge and experience to help you. We know accidents can be stressful and want to make the process as easy as possible for you. Call Zarzaur Law, P.A. today at (855) Hire-Joe, or by requesting a free case review through our website.

Sources:

https://highways.dot.gov/research/research-programs/safety/intersection-safety

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/2023/11/01/pensacola-seeks-to-launch-red-light-traffic-camera-pilot-program/71391599007/?fbclid=IwAR39_UL5vjgcl6a3LtijDfpNg7rQbrOBi7yA4QpxewtH5ff5iXnd9yH4LGA