This day of the week is the most dangerous for Florida drivers. What study shows

Florida drivers may want to take special care on the roads Friday. It’s the riskiest day of the week for crashes, according to an analysis from car dealer Carfax.

In fact, more crashes happen on a Friday than any other day of the week in at least 42 other states, the company said, likely because people are rushing home at the end of the work week.

“Drivers need to stay vigilant anytime they’re on the road,” said Chief John Fisher of the Bedford, Massachusetts Police Department. “Law enforcement responds to thousands of crashes on Fridays, often due to heavy traffic, fatigue, and distracted or impaired driving. These incidents can cause major delays, damage, and serious injuries.

“While Saturdays see more fatalities, according to NHTSA, the sheer volume of Friday accidents makes it one of the most dangerous days to drive.”

The day with the fewest crashes? Sunday, in almost all states, Carfax said.

Florida vehicle crashes dropped slightly in 2024

As of mid-July, there were 193,599 vehicle crashes and 1.476 fatalities this year in Florida, according to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

There were 381,339 vehicle crashes in Florida in 2024. Nearly 3,200 people were killed last year, and 246,436 were injured.

That’s down from the previous years. 2023 saw 395,175 crashes and 3,375 deaths, there were 397,620 crashes and 3,553 deaths in 2022, and 2021 had 401,540 crashes and 3,741 deaths.

Florida adds harsh penalties to ‘super speeders’

As of July 1, Florida has a new crime: “dangerous excessive speeding,” also called super speeding. It applies to anyone exceeding the speed limit by 50 mph or more, or driving 100 mph or more in a reckless manner.

• Anyone convicted of dangerous excessive speeding can face a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail, or both

• Second or subsequent offenses mean up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both

• Anyone caught doing it again within five years after a prior conviction will have their driver’s license revoked for at least six months

Also, any drivers who exceed the speed limit by 50 mph or more must now appear in court, rather than just paying a fine. The bill also allows law enforcement to impose additional fines for drivers going 30 mph or 50 mph over the posted limit at their discretion.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Friday is Florida’s riskiest day to drive. Which is safest?