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Published on Tuesday, March 2, 2004
in the NBC2 News Online
COLLIER COUNTY, March 2, 2004— Florida Highway Patrol troopers say almost every day there is a rollover accident somewhere in Southwest Florida. Some even estimate that 35 percent of the wrecks on I-75 are rollovers. But there are things you can do to prevent a rollover.
Distracted drivers are becoming an epidemic on local roads.
"They got one hand up here and the other trying to do something else and they are steering with their knee and I don't think that's a good policy," said Frank Richens.
Police say it's a recipe for a wreck.
"I think I worked 251 last year," said trooper Mike Mattiza of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Many of those accidents were rollovers.
"A lot of times it's due to driver error," said Mattiza.
Mattiza has been watching roads in the area for five years. He says when vehicles drift off the road, people panic.
"When they go off the road and into the median, they basically freak out and start trying to get back on the road and they over correct their steering," said Mattiza.
Mattiza said rollovers are easy to avoid. You just have to slow to a controlled stop.
"We're pulling off at 88 miles per hour, we just coast to the center, slow to a controlled stop and you are good to go," said Mattiza.
The best way to avoid a rollover is to avoid the median. Even if you cross the line, keep your cool.
Keep going and drift back on to the road. There is no reason for someone to hit the strips and jerk the wheel," said Mattiza.