Florida’s Increase in Traffic and Car Accidents Due to Snowbirds

Snowbird season is here once more, and with it comes a rise in traffic, increasing the risk of accidents in Florida. With the advent of winter, visitors from colder climates flock to Florida for the warm winter weather and all the fun and relaxation the state has to offer. For year-round residents of The Sunshine State, this can mean more traffic and stress, increasing the risk of traffic accidents.

Florida welcomes these winter-only residents with open arms, but problems often arise when snowbirds are not familiar with local traffic rules and patterns. All of this can mean distracted drivers and an increase in car accidents. To help you avoid accidents in the winter despite increased traffic, here are some tips.

Injured in an auto accident in South Florida? Schedule an appointment with a car accident chiropractor at County Line Chiropractic Medical and Rehab Centers today.

What Is Snowbird Season?

Snowbird season lasts from roughly October through April, and it is the 6 months of the year when Florida’s population increases due to people (especially senior citizens) from northern climates spending winter in the state before returning to the place they call home in the spring. In fact, Florida roads see more accidents from November to December than they do during any other time of the year, according to reports from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

Why Are Accidents More Common During Winter in Florida?

In addition to being less familiar with the area and causing more congested roads, snowbirds tend to cause more accidents because they are generally older than the full-time population. Senior citizens are far more prone to causing car accidents than others due to a variety of factors, including:

• Decreased reflexes. Older drivers have slower reflexes, drive slower, and move slower than younger people, and all of these factors increase the likelihood of a wreck.
• Vision problems. Senior citizens are more prone to vision problems, which can affect their driving.
• Making unsafe lane changes. Elderly drivers may fail to signal or even look before changing lanes.
• Recklessly pulling out into traffic. Possibly as a result of difficulty estimating distances, many older drivers cause accidents by pulling out in front of traffic when it is not safe.
• Dementia. Senior citizens may not have a good sense of direction, may forget where they are going, or may even forget which pedal is the accelerator and which is the brake.
• Failing to yield the right-of-way. Elderly drivers may forget driving rules or fail to see and yield to bikes, pedestrians, or other vehicles.
• Medical issues. Older drivers are more likely to have medical problems while driving, such as strokes or heart attacks, that may cause them to crash.

Florida Car Accident Statistics

According to the FLHSMV, in 2018 in Florida, there were:

• 401,851 traffic accidents
• 166,628 accidents that caused injuries
• 254,484 injuries suffered in traffic crashes
• 2,935 crashes that resulted in fatalities
• 3,150 fatalities resulting from traffic accidents
• 8,706 motorcycle accidents
• 497 motorcycle fatalities
• 6,568 auto accidents that involved bicyclists
• 148 bicyclist fatalities resulting from those crashes
• 9,307 total pedestrian accidents
• 699 pedestrian fatalities

Snowbird Season Safety Suggestions

While many car accidents are unavoidable, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of being injured in a fender bender and needing to see a car accident chiropractor.

Be the Good Driver You Want Others To Be

Remain calm and courteous to other drivers and avoid becoming agitated or angry when others fail to meet your driving expectations. When you get angry or frustrated with other drivers, you are more likely to make a mistake and possibly cause an accident.

If traffic is congested and you get stuck, listen to your favorite music or talk with your passengers while you wait patiently. Do not get impatient if the car ahead of you is moving slowly – they may be lost, looking for a specific address, or simply elderly and driving more deliberately to be safe.

Do Not Tailgate

Tailgating prevents you from having enough room to brake safely and avoid a rear-end collision. It might also stress out the driver ahead and result in an accident. Wait for the opportunity to pass safely. And always be courteous and respectful to other drivers, treating them the way you want to be treated.

Drive the Speed Limit

Staying within the posted speed limit not only saves you gas but also decreases the chances of having an accident. When you drive the speed limit, you have greater reaction time and an increased ability to brake and avoid obstacles and other cars. Always drive cautiously and within the speed limit, allowing you to reach your destination safely.

Do Not Drive Distracted

Staying alert while driving, whether on a weekend getaway or a trip to the local grocery store, is the key to avoiding accidents. Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents.

Looking away for only a few seconds, checking your phone, talking or texting while driving, as well as eating or drinking and adjusting the radio, or checking the GPS are all common distractions that can lead to an unwanted crash. While driving, it is more important to focus on other drivers whose quick turn without a signal or a sudden lane change can cause an accident at a moment’s notice.

Practice Safe Driving, Even in Parking Lots

While parking lot accidents do not often feature speed as a factor, distractions can create issues leading to accidents. With cars, people, and shopping carts all around, drive slowly and pay attention when in local parking lots to avoid accidents and damage to your vehicle.

Injured in an Accident? Get Chiropractic Care

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a snowbird, chiropractic care can tackle the root cause of your pain rather than masking it with addictive pain medications or dealing with the risks and expense of surgery. Here are some of the many benefits of seeking chiropractic care from the Accident Recovery Team after a car crash:

• Diagnose and treat hidden injuries. The shock of an accident causes adrenaline to flood your body, potentially masking pain and injuries. You may start to experience pain days or even weeks after your accident.
• Supports whiplash recovery. Whiplash can be caused by accidents at speeds as low as 5 mph and may cause dizziness, headaches, and vision or hearing problems in addition to neck and shoulder pain. Those who receive chiropractic treatment for whiplash have been shown to have much better long-term improvements in symptoms.
• No medication necessary. Many prescription pain medications are highly addictive. Chiropractic care treats the cause of your pain and allows your body to heal naturally without medication.
• Non-invasive treatment. Chiropractic care can treat many injuries non-invasively if they are caught and treated early enough. Waiting to see if your pain resolves on its own could lead to invasive surgery down the road.
• Improves your odds of filing a successful claim. If your accident was caused by the other driver, their insurance company should pay for your injuries – but you must be able to prove you sustained injuries. Healing at home will not help you secure a good settlement, so you should see a chiropractor after an accident even if you do not feel pain right away.

Schedule an Appointment with a Car Accident Chiropractor

When snowbird season arrives (and all year round), defensive driving habits will keep you safe. Should you find yourself injured in a car accident anyway, call on the Accident Recovery Team at County Line Chiropractic Medical and Rehab to find the best solution for you and your injury and get the pain relief you need.

County Line Chiropractic has 6 locations around South Florida to assist you, and each location offers all of our treatment services, including chiropractic adjustment, therapeutic massage, physical therapy, ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation.

If your vehicle was totaled or is still in the shop getting fixed, we offer transportation services. We also accept walk-ins, so do not let anything get in the way of starting your holistic healing journey.