central florida is extremely dangerous (Tampa, Orlando: work, home, crime)

[rich renter]

dont mind those people telling you you will be dodging bullets everyday from crime, the real danger in this region is on the roads, not crime.

70-car pileup kills 4, closes parts of I-4 in Polk County -- OrlandoSentinel.com

[Magnulus]

Somebody screwed up bad, and the important weather advisory failed to make the news, it seemed. I also believe the typical Florida driver has some blame. It seems cars kept driving at speed into a fogbank with very low visibility, without slowing down significantly. Fog is a real winter hazard in Florida.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

Somebody screwed up bad, and the important weather advisory failed to make the news, it seemed. I also believe the typical Florida driver has some blame. It seems cars kept driving at speed into a fogbank with very low visibility, without slowing down significantly. Fog is a real winter hazard in Florida.

That was a horrendous accident. I have been through that area before and its low lying and prone to fog. I would think if they were doing a controled burn in the area more would have been done to notify people. Sort of like at times they have the electronic signs flashing on the road days before they do work.

I love living in Florida but the roads are seriously lacking AND the drivers are savages.

I remember last year when I was coming back from Fort Myers, once I made the turn to cross the state, I saw one accident after another, air ambulances and so forth. When I was down on the road that goes north south to Fort Myers, it was all quiet and peaceful. I was a nervous wreck by the time I got home. One accident happened right in front of me.

[Keeper]

That stretch of I-4 has always been dangerous and deadly even in normal conditions. I pity anyone who has to drive it everyday from Lakeland to Tampa.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by Keeper

That stretch of I-4 has always been dangerous and deadly even in normal conditions. I pity anyone who has to drive it everyday from Lakeland to Tampa.

What other things happen in that area? I have seen the smoke mixed with fog. I can tell you after what I saw last time I went through, I will be careful but I would like to hear more about the conditions.

[amax41]

If this were most places this would not have happened. If you live on the coast of Lake Michigan heavy fog is normal...the type where you have less than 12 inches of visibility.

Do people continue to drive or pull over and wait?

Honestly I've seen it go either way, however at night you will see them try get through it because you can at least see the glow of highbeams. During the day 90% pull over.

Let's take that logic and apply it to yesterday's tragedy...

Would it had happened if these central florida drivers were not as .. (you fill in the blank) ...? I'm thinking yes something may have happened - but - not any where close to what did happen.

[ssgt]

Originally Posted by amax41

If this were most places this would not have happened. If you live on the coast of Lake Michigan heavy fog is normal...the type where you have less than 12 inches of visibility.

Do people continue to drive or pull over and wait?

Honestly I've seen it go either way, however at night you will see them try get through it because you can at least see the glow of highbeams. During the day 90% pull over.

Let's take that logic and apply it to yesterday's tragedy...

Would it had happened if these central florida drivers were not as .. (you fill in the blank) ...? I'm thinking yes something may have happened - but - not any where close to what did happen.

Jezopete!
A couple of years ago the same thing happened in Tennessee, Ive seen more cars than that piled up on I-88 in Illinois because of a "white-out" (snow).
Now the Florida fog is out to get you!!
BTW, most of the drivers in central Florida are not from Florida.

FLORIDA--- RUDE.....It wasnt until the yankees started pouring in!
FLORIDA---High TAXES.....Northerners moved here to escape high taxes....then vote for more!
Grow up people! Accidents happen, not just in Florida but everywhere!
Taxes are everywhere,not just in Florida but everywhere!
Crimes Happen,not just in Florida but everywhere!
You guys need some new material.

[Alphaman]

People drive like idiots! Today was foggy you could hardly see a car length in front of you and still even after that 70 car pile up I see people on 408 tailgating doing 80mph.

Stupid!

[INeedAChange]

If these drivers had watched "Bay News 9" the night before, they would have seen that foggy conditions had been predicted and to use caution

[tallylady46]

Yeah, right..multiple car pileups only happen in Florida .

When we were visiting relatives in NYS, that same week there was a pileup on Interstate 80 down in Pennsylvania. I've also witnessed one in northern Ohio and they happened with some frequency in NY.

But Interstate 4 is a dangerous road. With all the construction and local traffic mixed in with the tourist traffic trying to find Disney and the airport...I'm surprised there aren't more pileups on that road.