The Road to Reform: Can Stronger Traffic Laws Make Florida's Roads Safer?

By Sigal Waisman '29

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Driving is often viewed as a routine part of everyday life, something millions of people do without a second thought. But how can such a common activity also carry such high risk? Interestingly, it is often said that the most dangerous part of air travel is the drive to the airport itself. For most people, the convenience and independence that driving provides outweigh the chances of being involved in a crash. However, if there are steps that can further reduce those chances, shouldn't they be considered? 

Recent legislative changes, including Florida's enactment of Trenton's Law, reflect growing recognition that stronger traffic laws may be necessary to improve roadway safety. As Florida continues to implement new traffic safety reforms, it remains to be seen whether these changes will be enough to make the state's roads safer. 

In the past, Florida has consistently recorded one of the highest numbers of traffic crashes in the United States. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for both 2023 and 2024 show that only California and Texas reported more traffic fatalities than Florida. (1) While the state's large population and year-round tourism can contribute to these numbers, Florida’s traffic laws also play an important role in shaping roadway safety. Although recent reforms have made progress, Florida should strengthen its traffic safety laws because the state's current laws do not effectively address the causes of its high number of traffic crashes, including distracted or impaired driving, an aging population, and gaps in traffic safety policies.

How Florida's Accident Rates Compare to the Rest of the Country

As noted above, NHTSA data show only California and Texas recorded more traffic fatalities than Florida. At first glance, this may seem unsurprising, as they are the three most populated states in the country. (2) However, Florida's fatality totals cannot be explained by population alone. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that, when measured per 100,000 residents, Florida's traffic fatality rate (13.4) slightly exceeds Texas's (13.3) and is substantially higher than California's (9.8). (3) Additionally, unlike California and Texas, Florida has the nation's largest share of residents aged 65 and older, who account for 20.1% of the state's population. (4) Heavy traffic from seasonal residents and visitors may further contribute to the state's complex driving conditions. Combined with a large number of young and newly licensed drivers, these unique demographic and traffic patterns create conditions that make Florida especially vulnerable to crashes. 

Melissa Masters of the Tampa Free Press expands on this issue in her article, "7 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida." (5) She identifies the leading causes of crashes in the state as speeding, distracted driving, aggressive and reckless driving, driving under the influence, poor weather conditions, drowsy or fatigued driving, and running stop signs or red lights. These findings are consistent with data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which identify speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, and failure to obey traffic control devices as some of the most significant contributing factors in Florida traffic crashes each year. (6)

Fortunately, many of these causes are preventable and reflect driver behavior rather than unavoidable circumstances. Speeding and reckless driving increase both the likelihood and severity of crashes, while distracted and impaired driving reduce a driver's ability to react to changing road conditions. Florida's frequent rainstorms can further amplify these risks, particularly when drivers fail to adjust their speed or remain attentive. Together, these factors help explain why Florida experiences such a high number of crashes each year and demonstrate that improving driver behavior and strengthening traffic safety laws could significantly reduce preventable accidents across the state.

Who's Driving? Florida's Unique Driving Population

When the average person hears the term snowbird, they might think of a robin or a goose migrating south for the winter. When a Floridian hears snowbird, however, they are more likely to think of someone's grandparent from New York or Maine making their annual trip to the Sunshine State. While Florida welcomes its seasonal residents, the state's large elderly population has sparked ongoing debate about older adults' ability to drive safely.

Florida has implemented regulations for older drivers, but questions remain about whether they are enough. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a Florida Class E driver's license must be renewed every eight years for drivers age 79 or younger. Drivers aged 80 or older, however, must renew their licenses every six years. (7) While this increased renewal requirement recognizes that aging can affect driving ability, many age-related impairments can develop long before a license is due for renewal. At the same time, many older adults are understandably reluctant to surrender the independence that driving provides or may not recognize that their abilities have changed. (8) As a result, age-related impairments can increase the risk of crashes and create additional safety challenges on Florida's roads.

At the opposite end of the age spectrum, Florida's teenage drivers also play a significant role in the state's high number of traffic crashes. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' 2021 Teen Driver Safety Week data, there are more than 815,000 teenage drivers in Florida. Although teens make up only about 4.7% of the state's licensed drivers, they are involved in nearly 11% of all vehicle crashes. Additionally, traffic crashes remain the leading cause of accidental death and serious injury among individuals ages 15 to 19. (9) Like older drivers, teenagers face age-related challenges behind the wheel, but for different reasons. Many young drivers lack experience and are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors such as speeding or distracted driving. These factors make teenage drivers vulnerable to being involved in traffic crashes and further contribute to Florida's roadway safety challenges. 

Similar to most states, Florida allows teens to obtain a Class E driver's license at age 16. However, the difference lies in the state's licensing process. The 2023 fatal-crash rate for drivers ages 16 to 19 was nearly three times the rate for drivers over 20, according to federal statistics. A new state law (SB 994) aims to improve their safety. The legislation requires teens to get some additional training before getting a learner's permit. Beginning August 1, applicants ages 14½ through 17 must complete a six-hour classroom-based driver's education course before hitting the roads. Previously, teens were required to complete the four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. (10) Although this reform represents meaningful progress and demonstrates the important role that traffic laws can play in reducing crash rates, additional measures may still be necessary to address Florida’s broader roadway safety concerns. “The better that we can educate our young drivers, the safer our roads will be,” said Florida Safety Council Executive Director Christopher Earl. (11)

The Path to Safer Roads: Current Legislation and Future Reform

After losing 18-year-old St. Johns County resident Trenton Stewart to a repeat impaired driver in 2023, his parents refused to let his death become just another statistic. Instead, they turned their grief into advocacy, arguing that Florida's penalties for repeat DUI offenders were not strong enough to prevent similar tragedies. (12) At the time, repeat DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenders faced a maximum prison sentence of only 15 years, and drivers who refused impairment testing after causing a crash resulting in death or serious bodily injury faced no separate criminal penalty for that refusal. (13) Trenton’s parents’ advocacy contributed to the passage of Trenton's Law, which was introduced as CS/HB 687 in the Florida House, with CS/CS/SB 138 serving as its Senate companion bill. After passing the Florida Legislature and being signed by the governor, CS/HB 687 became Chapter 2025-121, Laws of Florida. (14) The law increases penalties for repeat DUI offenders, including doubling the maximum prison sentence for repeat DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenders from 15 to 30 years and creating criminal penalties for refusing impairment testing after a crash resulting in serious bodily injury or death. 

Trenton's Law represents an important step toward improving traffic safety in Florida, but it cannot solve the state's crash problem on its own. Florida's roads are unlike those in most states, with a unique mix of tourists, seasonal residents, elderly drivers, and inexperienced teenagers all sharing the road. Because of these challenges, Florida should continue building on recent reforms by strengthening its approach to driver safety through improved education, licensing, enforcement, and screening requirements. Florida can look to states such as Virginia, where young drivers must complete a comprehensive driver education program, hold a learner's permit for at least nine months, and complete at least 45 hours of supervised driving before earning a license. Adopting similar measures could better prepare new drivers before they begin driving independently. (15) At the same time, continued investment in safer road design and public safety campaigns can help prevent crashes before they occur. 

Driving is a privilege, not a right. Protecting that privilege requires laws that evolve alongside Florida’s changing population and roadway conditions. By combining stronger legislation with better education, enforcement, and infrastructure, Florida can move beyond reacting to tragedies and begin preventing them, creating safer roads for all. 

Endnotes

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, States: Crashes and All Victims, https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx.

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Largest U.S. States by Population, https://www.britannica.com/topic/largest-U-S-state-by-population.

3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts 2023: State by State, https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state.

4. World Population Review, Elderly Population by State, https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/elderly-population-by-state.

5. Melissa Masters, 7 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida, Tampa Free Press (available through NexisUni).

6. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2023, https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2023.pdf.

7. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Driver License Renewal Requirements and Options for Older Drivers, https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/mature-driver/driver-license-renewal-requirements-options-older-drivers/.

8. Many Seniors Often Reluctant to Surrender Their Driver’s Licenses, News Chief (Feb. 15, 2016) (available through NexisUni).

9. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Teen Driver Safety Week 2021, https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/govproc/teen_driver_safety_week_2021.pdf.

10. Douglas Soule, New Requirements for Teen Drivers in Florida Take Effect Aug. 1, WUSF Public Media (July 22, 2025), https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2025-07-22/new-requirements-teen-drivers-florida-in-effect-august.

11. Shannon Butler, Florida’s New Law for Teen Drivers Now in Effect, WFTV (Aug. 1, 2025), https://www.wftv.com/news/local/floridas-new-law-teen-drivers-now-effect/C27SEVAYRBDIVEBBUA6F3TXD3U/.

12. “Gives Some Form of Peace”: Mother Using New Florida Law as Opportunity to Turn Grief into Justice, News4JAX (Oct. 1, 2025), https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/10/01/gives-some-form-of-peace-mother-using-new-florida-law-as-opportunity-to-turn-grief-into-justice/.

13. Florida Senate, Bill Summary for CS/HB 687: Driving Under the Influence (2025), https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/billsummaries/2025/html/687.

14. Florida House of Representatives, CS/HB 687: Driving Under the Influence (2025), https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=81302.

15. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Driver Education Requirements, https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/licenses-ids/learners/ed-reqs.