Florida's Interstate 4 averages 1.4 deaths per mile and 45 fatal crashes per year. But why is I-4 so dangerous? Bad design and constant flow of traveling tourists lead to more and more construction, which then leads to heavy congestion and reckless driving.
Updates
October 28, 2024
North Carolina civil engineernig firm, Lane Construction, will build the I-4 at SR-33 Interchange in Lakeland. The $190 million contract will improve traffic flow and safety on the roadway and augment the bridge clearance at the interchange.
June 27, 2024
Governor DeSantis announces a ramped-up timeline to ease congestion on I-4 by widening the 4.5 miles between U.S. 27 and ChampionsGate interchanges beginning in 2024 instead of 2026.
Daytona Beach to Tampa Bay
Spanning across 132 miles, I-4 runs from Daytona Beach to Tampa Bay, intersecting with I-75 and I-95. It takes a little over 2 hours to travel the entire I-4 corridor at an average speed of 60 MPH. But one of the most dangerous and most frustrating portions of I-4 is through the greater Orlando area.
Why Is I-4 So Dangerous?
Bad Design & Never-ending Construction
The span of I-4 running through Orlando is notoriously dangerous. Heavy congestion, sharp curves, narrow lanes, and abrupt merges keep drivers on edge. One Orlando commuter says, "I avoid I-4 like the plague, but sometimes, there's no other choice. It's a necessary evil that we have to endure."
The section of I-4 eastbound between Exit 60 and Exit 72 (i.e. from Disney World to Sea World) is ranked the 10th worst corridor in the country, with commuters on that route spending an annual average of 70 hours of delayed drive time. That's almost three full days. What's to blame? The ongoing construction doesn't help, with slowdowns, debris, and a reduction in navigable lanes.
But the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is hard at work.
I-4 Ultimate
The $2.3 billion "I-4 Ultimate" project - which is the largest highway infrastructure project in the history of Florida - started back in 2015 with the "ultimate" goal to improve many of these dangerous and congested areas. The original estimated date of completion was early 2021, and it has reached "substantial completion," according to one of the FDOT's major contractors. Reconstruction efforts included:
New improvements are still underway as part of the "I-4 Beyond the Ultimate" project. According to the FDOT:
"The goal of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program is to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity in Central Florida to the east and west of the I-4 Ultimate project. I-4 Beyond the Ultimate addresses the biggest challenges to mobility on I-4 in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties."
The section of I-4 eastbound between Exit 60 and Exit 72 (i.e. from Disney World to Sea World) is ranked the 10th worst corridor in the country, with commuters on that route spending an annual average of 70 hours of delayed drive time. That's almost three full days. What's to blame? The ongoing construction doesn't help, with slowdowns, debris, and a reduction in navigable lanes.
But the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is hard at work.
I-4 Ultimate
The $2.3 billion "I-4 Ultimate" project - which is the largest highway infrastructure project in the history of Florida - started back in 2015 with the "ultimate" goal to improve many of these dangerous and congested areas. The original estimated date of completion was early 2021, and it has reached "substantial completion," according to one of the FDOT's major contractors. Reconstruction efforts included:
- Construction of four toll lanes
- Widening, replacement or construction of 140 highway bridges
- Reconstruction of 15 interchanges
- Drainage, utilities and other infrastructure
New improvements are still underway as part of the "I-4 Beyond the Ultimate" project. According to the FDOT:
"The goal of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program is to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity in Central Florida to the east and west of the I-4 Ultimate project. I-4 Beyond the Ultimate addresses the biggest challenges to mobility on I-4 in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties."
Source: FDOT (www.i4beyond.com)
Positive Progress
John Tyler, Secretary of the FDOT, says that opening up the new toll and general use lanes have led to a "60% reduction in traffic crashes and lane-blocking incidents." He also says they're "seeing travel time savings of four to five minutes in the general use lanes," which is about three hours a month for daily I-4 commuters.
The I-4 Express is a section of two toll-managed lanes running both directions and spanning 21 miles around the Metropolitan Orlando area, and many drivers do see these express lanes as a positive step in the right direction. A big reason why it has improved traffic conditions is the limited number of entrances and exits. Then again, there are a lot of frequent I-4 drivers that say the tolls aren't worth the money unless there's heavy traffic.
John Tyler, Secretary of the FDOT, says that opening up the new toll and general use lanes have led to a "60% reduction in traffic crashes and lane-blocking incidents." He also says they're "seeing travel time savings of four to five minutes in the general use lanes," which is about three hours a month for daily I-4 commuters.
The I-4 Express is a section of two toll-managed lanes running both directions and spanning 21 miles around the Metropolitan Orlando area, and many drivers do see these express lanes as a positive step in the right direction. A big reason why it has improved traffic conditions is the limited number of entrances and exits. Then again, there are a lot of frequent I-4 drivers that say the tolls aren't worth the money unless there's heavy traffic.
Why Is I-4 So Dangerous?
Speeding & Aggressive Drivers
Other than the cost of tolls, there's another negative side to the I-4 Express. Drivers are treating it like their own personal racetrack, many being ticketed going 20 MPH over the speed limit.
Targeting the Speeders
Back in 2021, the Polk County Sheriff's Office conducted a year-long safety initiative targeting speeders and aggressive drivers on I-4. They ended up stopping 5,014 drivers for speeding and reckless driving and issuing 3,790 citations. 143 people were also arrested for multiple charges, including:
Over 250 drivers were clocked at going over 100 MPH. One driver was clocked at going 155 MPH. In that section of I-4, the speed limit is 65 - 70 MPH.
Fatal Behavior
In April 2023 in Plant City, a road rage shooting on I-4 killed a woman and injured a man. Witnesses said the shooter was driving "recklessly in traffic" and displaying classic road rage behaviors.
In January 2024 in Deltona, two men were shot - one of them in the face - while traveling on I-4. According to one of the victims who called 911, a driver had pulled up behind them and flashed their high beams. Here's the full 911 call:
Dispatch: "911, what is the address of your emergency?"
Caller: "I don't know, but I've just been shot. I'm on the side of the road. A driver shot me in the face. I need help immediately. I'm on Interstate 4. Please hurry, I've been shot in the face. I didn't get out of his way fast enough. I moved over and pulled up beside him, and he shot through my window and hit me in my face and kept on going."
Dispatch: "Was it like a road rage incident? Do you know the person?"
Caller: "No, I don't know, we was just going fast, and he just come up behind me and I moved around him. I just heard a big kaboom, and I seen blood go everywhere."
Targeting the Speeders
Back in 2021, the Polk County Sheriff's Office conducted a year-long safety initiative targeting speeders and aggressive drivers on I-4. They ended up stopping 5,014 drivers for speeding and reckless driving and issuing 3,790 citations. 143 people were also arrested for multiple charges, including:
- Knowingly Driving with No Driver’s License
- Reckless Driving
- Racing
- Possession of Narcotics
- DUI
- DUI Manslaughter
- Violation of Injunction
Over 250 drivers were clocked at going over 100 MPH. One driver was clocked at going 155 MPH. In that section of I-4, the speed limit is 65 - 70 MPH.
Fatal Behavior
In April 2023 in Plant City, a road rage shooting on I-4 killed a woman and injured a man. Witnesses said the shooter was driving "recklessly in traffic" and displaying classic road rage behaviors.
In January 2024 in Deltona, two men were shot - one of them in the face - while traveling on I-4. According to one of the victims who called 911, a driver had pulled up behind them and flashed their high beams. Here's the full 911 call:
Dispatch: "911, what is the address of your emergency?"
Caller: "I don't know, but I've just been shot. I'm on the side of the road. A driver shot me in the face. I need help immediately. I'm on Interstate 4. Please hurry, I've been shot in the face. I didn't get out of his way fast enough. I moved over and pulled up beside him, and he shot through my window and hit me in my face and kept on going."
Dispatch: "Was it like a road rage incident? Do you know the person?"
Caller: "No, I don't know, we was just going fast, and he just come up behind me and I moved around him. I just heard a big kaboom, and I seen blood go everywhere."
Why Is I-4 So Dangerous?
Tourism
There probably wouldn't be as much a need for constant roadway and infrastructure improvements if it weren't for the over 70 million visitors that visit Orlando every year and the over $80 billion impact the tourism industry has on Orlando's economy.
Walt Disney World alone sees over 50 million visitors every year. In 2021, Universal Orlando reached over 10 million visitors. In 2022, SeaWorld reached almost 5 million visitors. A good portion of these visitors are annual pass holders and travel via I-4 regularly.
When you get that many visitors anxious to get from point A to point B, you end up with headlines like "Drivers Cross I-4 Median Near Disney World."
Walt Disney World alone sees over 50 million visitors every year. In 2021, Universal Orlando reached over 10 million visitors. In 2022, SeaWorld reached almost 5 million visitors. A good portion of these visitors are annual pass holders and travel via I-4 regularly.
When you get that many visitors anxious to get from point A to point B, you end up with headlines like "Drivers Cross I-4 Median Near Disney World."
No matter the time of year, it doesn't seem to let up. Floridians taking advantage of the cooler weather flock to Orlando in January and February. Spring breakers take up March and April. Summer vacationers from around the world head over from May to September. Then the theme park holiday celebrations start in October and go hard until December.
Poor I-4 takes a year-round beating.
Poor I-4 takes a year-round beating.
If you get in a car accident, whether you're on I-4 or not, please call our Jacksonville car accident lawyers at Wilkes & Mee. We drive the same roads you do and understand how fast accidents happen and how scary injuries are.