Death and injury from unsafe driving and boating combine to make July 4th the most dangerous holiday of the year. A record two million Florida drivers will take to the road this weekend, and area attractions make Orlando a top destination for travelers nationwide. Last year, there were almost 900 car crashes in Florida on the 4th of July, killing eight people.
Florida has the Most Boats, and Most Boat Injury and Accidents
Nearly a million recreational boats area registered in Florida, far more than any other state. There were 684 boating accidents in the state last year, resulting in 70 deaths. Boating accident injuries and deaths in Florida are expected to set a record this year. The biggest causes of boating accidents are operators who are going too fast or not paying attention, or those who have been drinking.
Fish and Wildlife officers will be patrolling the waterways this holiday, on the lookout for reckless, speeding or intoxicated boaters. Operators need to pay special attention to safety and ensure that all passengers are wearing life jackets.
Law enforcement will be out in force on the roadways during the holiday as well. The Florida Highway Patrol is urging drivers to be extra careful and to not drink and drive, noting that alcohol is involved in more than half of all holiday traffic deaths.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-july-4-roads-boats-20170629-story.html
http://fortune.com/2017/06/30/july-4th-fireworks-drunk-driving/
http://uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2016.pdf
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/florida/florida-boating-accidents-deaths-increase-in-last-year/453620111
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170702/pedestrian-fatalities-this-is-dangerous-place-to-walk
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/plantation/fl-sb-plantation-fireworks-injury-20170629-story.html