There’s no denying Pinellas County has a traffic problem – a big traffic problem. As more and more people move into the state, the number of vehicles on the road continues to rise. And that presents many problems, not the least of which are auto collisions – with the number of incidents steadily rising.

One common explanation Sunshine State natives give is that so many drivers come from all parts of the country and from all over the world. This introduces a hodgepodge of driving behaviors and habits that don’t mix well, even during relatively light traffic and favorable weather conditions. Circumstances substantially worsen during snowbird and tourist seasons, increasing the number of people behind the wheel at practically any given time. 

READ: How Many Red Light Runners Are There in Pinellas County?

Every local knows the worst spots to be and at what times of day. We’re also fully aware the roads are rife with distracted drivers, aggressive motorists, and daredevil-like motorcyclists who rocket down the street at high speeds, weaving in and out of lanes. Then, there’s also plenty of the opposite. Overly cautious individuals who do not drive with the flow of traffic and meagerly attempt to merge onto the highway or interstate well below the necessary speed required for on-ramps. 

Needless to say, such chaotic conditions create challenges for casual commuters and even defensive driving doesn’t deliver enough deterrents to avoid danger. Regardless, one thoroughfare is especially notorious for the number of lives it’s claimed of commuters and visitors alike.

U.S. Highway 19 Is the Deadliest Road in Pinellas County

In Pinellas County, U.S. Highway 19 holds the grim title of being the most hazardous road in the area and ranks among the most perilous in the entire state of Florida. It’s gained this horrific reputation because it’s the road with the most loss of life. Here are a few reasons why U.S.-19 ranks the highest for deaths in Pinellas County:

Fatalities

Between 2020 and 2022, 94 lives were lost on U.S.-19 in Pinellas County, marking the highest fatality count for any road segment in the state.

Causes of Fatalities

Fatal crashes had several causes: 13% involved alcohol, 7% were due to distracted driving, and 4% resulted from speeding.

Traffic

U.S.-19 is the longest and busiest road in Pinellas County. It accommodates a mix of fast-moving and local traffic, with intersections being hotspots for accidents.

Although, there have been and will be more safety improvements. For instance, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is implementing a safety action plan along the U.S.-19 frontage roads to reduce crashes. Additionally, construction is in progress to add interchanges at U.S.-19 and Curlew Road.

As U.S.-19 Safety Improves, Other Roads Get More Dangerous

But, with officials focusing safety improvements on U.S.-19, this necessarily means other dangerous roads are deprioritized. So, while U.S.-19 receives improvements to make it less hazardous, other areas become more perilous. Here’s a quick breakdown of the worst spots in Pinellas County.

Once again, according to a study by Consumer Affairs, the segment of U.S.-19 in Pinellas County holds the title of Florida’s deadliest road. The risk is amplified by its heavy traffic, which includes both high-speed and local vehicles. However, there are other sections which are quite dangerous, including:

• Central Avenue. This bustling street spans the entire peninsula, connecting the bay to the Gulf beaches. The downtown stretch between 4th Street N and 2nd Street N is particularly hazardous for pedestrians.
• SR-693/66th Street N. Navigating this busy road can be challenging, especially where it intersects with U.S.-19 near 22nd Ave. N.
• 5th Ave. N./Alt U.S.-19. Running through the heart of St. Petersburg, this popular east-west road has numerous dangerous intersections.
• 49th Street South. A traffic study has underscored the hazards of this route from St. Pete to Gulfport.

The entire list is much more extensive. For example, the intersection of Ulmerton Road and Seminole Blvd is a notorious spot, as is Seminole Blvd and Bryan Dairy or 102nd Ave. Additionally, U.S.-19 and Drew Street, U.S.-19 and Gulf-to-Bay Blvd, SR 60 and Belcher Road, and even nearly the entire stretch of Belcher Road itself.

Why are Pinellas County Roads So Dangerous?

Unfortunately, there are many reasons why Pinellas County roads are so dangerous, including road defects, impaired driving, abrupt lane changes, poor signage, speeding, aggressive driving, dangerous left-hand turns, following too closely, and failure to yield the right of way. But sadly, other road safety challenges exist due to a variety of factors:

• High traffic. Volume Roads like U.S.-19 are heavily trafficked and often see vehicles moving at high speeds.
• Driver behavior. Accidents frequently result from distracted driving, intoxicated driving, speeding, and road rage.
• Road conditions. Issues such as road defects, poor signage, and a lack of medians or sidewalks contribute to the dangers.
• Intersections. Intersections, particularly those crossing U.S.-19, pose significant risks.

Other Factors 

Additional contributing factors include hazardous lane changes, risky left-hand turns, and failure to yield the right-of-way. And, of course, wrong-way drivers. In fact, in 2022 alone, Florida experienced 3,854 wrong-way crashes, resulting in 128 fatalities. 

Moreover, wrong-way accidents are becoming increasingly concerning in the state, often leading to deadly outcomes. Efforts to prevent these crashes involve several safety measures like reflective signs with blinking LED lights, improved pavement markings, resurfacing of off-ramps, and radar detection systems.

Unsurprisingly, the most common factors contributing to wrong-way driving include alcohol impairment, operator age, time of day, and difficult road conditions.

So, while the state continues its work to improve the safety of U.S.-19, other roads remain and become more dangerous.

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(Image credit: WFLA)