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Published on Thursday, April 22, 2004
in the Melbourne Florida Today (4-22-04)
Reckless driving is a major contributing factor to fatal accidents on Interstate 95 in Brevard County, according to a review of federal crash data.
According to data compiled by the Federal Department of Transportation, between 1998 and 2002 there were 80 fatal crashes that killed 102 people on the 70 or so miles of the interstate that slices through Brevard.
There were 128 vehicles involved in those crashes, 46 of which were being driven recklessly, according to accident reports.
"I can say that in the majority of those fatal crashes, speed is a contributing factor. It may not be the only factor, but it is a contributing factor," Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Kim Miller said.
Most of the crashes happened on weekends. Forty-seven of the 80 accidents occurred between Friday and Sunday. Tuesday was the day with the fewest fatal accidents, only five during the five-year period.
Alcohol doesn't appear to be a major cause of the accidents. Fewer than one in six of the drivers involved had blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit.
Brevard is about to enter the deadliest month of the year for I-95.
Thirteen of the 80 accidents during the five-year period happened in May, the traditional start of the summer driving season. Next came December with 12 fatal accidents. January, February and August saw the fewest fatal accidents, 2 each between 1998 and 2002.
The biggest factor contributing to fatal crashes could just be more people using the highway. Brevard's population grew by about 80,000 people between 1990 and 2000. And they are increasingly using I-95 to commute back and forth between home and work.
"The population just continues to grow," FHP Sgt. Channing Taylor said. "You're going to have more crashes."