Why Florida's roads have never been safer

Florida's roads have never been safer.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2009 saw the lowest number of deaths — 1.3 per 100 million miles traveled — recorded in four decades. Alcohol-related fatalities were down 14 percent; motorcycle fatalities dropped 24 percent; bicyclist deaths fell 15 percent; even 21 percent fewer teens died compared to 2008.

Then there's this fact: Men accounted for 76 percent of all traffic fatalities last year, even though women make up 50 percent of Florida's licensed drivers. More men ride motorcycles and bikes, yes, but there's also this: "Males tend to take more risks and be more aggressive," said University of South Florida psychology professor Paul Spector.

The state's annual traffic crash report shows just how preventable traffic deaths are. If people didn't drink and drive, if they wore their seat belts and avoided other driving mistakes, deaths would go down even more.

2009 FLORIDA CRASH FACTS

Source: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2009.

The deadliest gender

In 2009, men were killed in 76 percent of traffic-related fatalities involving drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians in Florida (excluding passenger deaths).

2,073 total traffic-related deaths*

1,569 men killed

504 women killed

* Not including passenger deaths.

Drivers

1,119 total drivers killed

778 male drivers killed

341 female drivers killed

Motorcyclists

376 total motorcyclists killed

367 male motorcyclists killed

9 female motorcyclists killed

Bicyclists

99 total bicyclists killed

86 male bicyclists killed

13 female bicyclists killed

Pedestrians

479 total pedestrians killed

338 male pedestrians killed

141 female pedestrians killed

Unsafe use of safety equipment

59 percent (917 of 1,555) of drivers and passengers killed in seat belt equipped vehicles were not wearing them.

37 percent (148 of 402) of motorcyclists and their passengers killed were not wearing helmets.

88 percent (88 of 100) of bicyclists and their passengers killed were not wearing helmets.

50 percent (44 of 88) of children from birth to age 17 killed were not using child restraints or seat belts.

Holding back children

83 percent (37,760 of 45,375) of children from birth to age 17 who escaped injury in traffic crashes used child restraints/seat belts.

50 percent (44 of 88) of children from birth to age 17 who died in traffic crashes were unrestrained.

Top contributing causes of fatal crashes

25 percent: alcohol/drug use/DUI (483 of 1,964)

20 percent: careless driving (386 of 1,964)

10 percent:failed to yield right of way (205 of 1,964)

6 percent: exceeded safe speed (126 of 1,964)

5 percent: exceeded posted speed limit (106 of 1,964)

3 percent: drove left of center line (56 of 1,964)

3 percent: ignored traffic signal (56 of 1,964)

Drinking and dying

39 percent (1,004 of 2,563) of traffic-related fatalities were linked to drinking.

41 percent (195 of 482) of pedestrian fatalities were linked to drinking.

Alcohol/drug use in fatal crashes

77 percent: alcohol use/DUI (371 of 483)

13 percent: drug use/DUI (64 of 483)

10 percent: alcohol and drug use/DUI (48 of 483)

Don't blame it on the rain

85 percent (199,432 of 235,778) of traffic crashes took place on dry roads.

14 percent (32,573 of 235,778) of traffic crashes took place on wet roads.

0.004 percent (1,025 of 235,778) of traffic crashes took place on slippery roads.

Source: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2009.