Brevard County Dangerous for Pedestrians and Motorcyclists
Florida is one of the most popular states for walkers, joggers, and motorcycle riders for its scenic beach roads. But a 2.2 mile-long stretch of coastal highway in Brevard County is one of the most dangerous places for a pedestrian or motorcyclist to be. Between 2009 and 2013, a total of 22 “vulnerable road users” were struck by a motor vehicle in this stretch of road.
The Danger Zone
The Brevard County danger zone is matched only by one other segment of highway in the entire state for the number of incidents involving pedestrians and motorcyclists on the road. The Florida Department of Transportation lists it within the Top 15 counties with the most pedestrian and bicycle/motorcycle accidents, serious injuries and fatalities.
By using database analysis, the new Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) mapped over 1,723 pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents involving another motor vehicle across the state. The organization found, among other statistics, that:
- S. 192 to Paradise Boulevard and U.S. 192 in West Melbourne tied as the most-dangerous segments of road with 22 crashes each
- Four of the five highest-crash roadway segments were beachside
- State Road A1A in Indialantic (U.S. 192 to Paradise Boulevard) and U.S. 1 each claimed six of the Top 27 Crash Corridors
County and Road Statistics
Once the information was released by the TPO, the reactions were mixed amongst experts and residents in Brevard County. “We’ve known for decades that A1A is a high-crash location for bicyclists and pedestrians. And it’s really hard to do anything about those roads. They were designed with early-1960s engineering-design standards.” However, “Out on west 192, that’s new information for us. That segment was not really on our radar as a high-crash location. Now, it is. That shows the value of doing our analysis.”
As of the first week of December, 55 people had been killed in Brevard County accidents and 18 were pedestrians. It equates to a 33% fatality rate for pedestrians, far above the national average of 14 percent. Many people cite the lack of sidewalks as a hazard even in less traveled locales across the county in addition to center turn lanes and multiple driveways as hazards for motorcycles.
Brevard Areas of Caution
For Brevard County in particular, the TPO mapped the most dangerous corridors of traffic for pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcyclists. Between 2009 and 2013, these stretches of road saw the most accidents for these road users and do not even take into account any accidents that occurred within 250 feet of a major intersection.
22 Accidents: State Road A1A and U.S. 192
16 Accidents: Indian Harbour Beach: Eau Gallie Boulevard, Beachside Melbourne: State Road A1A, and Cape Canaveral: State Road A1A
15 Accidents: Merritt Island: North Courtenay Parkway and Port St. John: U.S. 1
14 Accidents: Palm Shores: U.S. 1, Scottsmoor: U.S. 1, Titusville: State Road 50, Cocoa Beach: State Road A1A, Sharpes: U.S. 1
Call a Florida Accident Lawyer
If you or someone that you know has been injured in a motorcycle, pedestrian, or bicycle accident in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, or the surrounding areas, let the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm help. Call or contact the office today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
