Can Your Driving Habits Heighten the Risk of an Accident?

Your crash risk rises or falls with everyday choices behind the wheel. A moment on the phone, a tight following gap, or a quick burst of speed can turn routine driving into danger. Strong habits cut that risk and help protect your legal position if another driver causes a collision. Use this guide to set safer routines today.

Why Driving Habits Matter

Safe driving is a daily practice. Small choices add up over every mile. Florida recorded 395,175 codable crashes in 2023 and 3,375 traffic fatalities. Safer habits lower your odds on the road and strengthen your case if another driver hurts you.

Risky Driving Habits That Raise Crash Odds

Phone Use and Other Distractions

Texting while driving is illegal in Florida. The texting statute applies to all drivers on all roads. Florida also bans handheld use in school and work zones. 

NHTSA reports 3,275 people were killed nationwide in 2023 from crashes involving distracted drivers. NHTSA also explains that reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds, which at 55 miles per hour equals traveling the length of a football field.

Distraction is deadly, and real world studies show why. Back in 2009, Virginia Tech researchers found texting can raise crash or near-crash risk by about twenty three times for heavy truck drivers.

Florida crash data also tracked distracted driver involvement. The 2023 report listed 150,703 people affected in crashes that involved driver distraction, including 295 fatalities.

Speeding

Speeding increases both crash frequency and injury severity. In 2022, there were 12,151 speeding related fatalities nationwide, making up 29% of all traffic deaths that year. 

Florida law also addresses aggressive driving patterns. The statute on aggressive driving covers combinations of violations such as speeding, unsafe lane changes, failure to yield, and following too closely.

Following Too Closely

Tailgating leaves no room to brake. Florida law requires a reasonable and prudent following distance based on speed and road conditions.

Florida’s licensing guidance tells drivers to keep at least a four second gap in normal conditions, but you should increase the gap at night or in rain.

Poor Adjustment To Weather and Traffic

Most weather related crashes happen on wet pavement and during rainfall. Plan for longer stopping distances and slower speeds when the road is wet.

Drowsy Driving

Fatigue slows reaction time and causes lapses in attention. NHTSA estimated that in 2017, drowsy drivers were involved in about 91,000 police reported crashes, with nearly 800 deaths. Experts consider this an undercount.

Impaired Driving

Alcohol remains a leading factor in fatal crashes. In 2022, 13,524 people died in alcohol impaired driving crashes. That equaled about one death every 39 minutes. 

Not Wearing a Seat Belt

Seat belts are the simplest lifesaving habit. For front seat occupants, lap and shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 45% and reduce moderate to critical injury by about 50%. 

Vehicle Neglect

Worn tires, weak brakes, and streaking wiper blades add risk. Combine poor maintenance with rain or heavy traffic and crash likelihood rises. Use scheduled maintenance and walk-around checks to spot problems early.

Driving Habits That Lower Your Risk Of An Accident

• Put the phone away. Use do not disturb and mount any navigation device before you drive.
• Leave a cushion. Keep at least a four second following distance gap in clear weather. Add more space at night or on wet roads.
• Obey posted speed limits. Slow down for rain, standing water, or congestion.
• Wear your seat belt on every trip. Safety belts cut fatal risk almost in half.
• Rest before long drives. If you feel sleepy, pull over. Fatigue is a hidden hazard.
• Maintain tires, brakes, and lights. Replace wiper blades before the rainy season.
• Report dangerous driving. Dial *347 to reach the nearest Florida Highway Patrol Communications Center.

How Unsafe Habits Affect a Florida Injury Claim

Comparative Negligence

Florida uses modified comparative negligence. A person who is more than 50% at fault cannot recover damages. If fault is 50% or less, the recovery is reduced by that percentage. The statute sets these rules and applies to most negligence cases other than medical malpractice.

Unsafe habits can shift fault. A citation for texting, following too closely, or aggressive driving may be evidence of negligence in a civil case. Florida bans manual texting while driving and bans handheld device use in school and work zones. Officers can also cite drivers for following too closely and may mark aggressive driving when multiple violations occur. 

Statute of Limitations

For most negligence cases that accrue on or after March 24, 2023, you have two years to file a suit in Florida. Missing the deadline can bar the claim.

Insurance Basics After a Crash

Florida requires proof of personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage before registering a car. PIP pays covered medical expenses up to the policy limits regardless of fault. The statute sets a minimum PIP benefit of $10,000.

What To Do After a Crash in Tampa Bay

1. Call 911 and get medical care.
2. Move to safety if vehicles are drivable. Use hazard lights.
3. Exchange information and get the witnesses’ contact information.
4. Photograph vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and visible injuries.
5. Do not discuss fault with the other driver or the insurer.
6. Call a local car accident lawyer like Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, before you give a recorded statement.

Evidence fades quickly. Prompt legal guidance protects your rights and preserves deadlines.

FAQ

Which Driving Habits Are Linked to the Most Fatal Crashes?

Speeding and alcohol contribute to a large number of deaths. In 2022, speeding was involved in 12,151 fatalities. Alcohol impairment was involved in 13,524 fatalities. Distracted driving also kills thousands each year. 

Is Texting While Driving Illegal in Florida?

Yes. Florida bans manual texting by all drivers. Florida also bans handheld device use in designated school and work zones. 

How Far Away Should I Be From the Car Ahead?

Florida licensing guidance tells drivers to keep a minimum four second gap and to increase distance in poor conditions. The following distance statute also requires a space that is reasonable and prudent.

How Long Do I Have To Bring a Negligence Claim?

Two years for most negligence cases under Florida’s limitation statute. Certain claims have different rules, so legal advice is important.

How Can I Report a Dangerous or Impaired Driver?

From a mobile phone, dial *347 to reach Florida Highway Patrol. Use 911 for emergencies.

Sources:

Distracted Driving.

Florida Legislature.

Florida Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2023.

New Data From Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Provides Insight Into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distraction. (2009).

Traffic Safety Facts.