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2003

Florida · year

Florida in 2003

Deaths 3,169Fatal crashes 2,874Per 100,000 18.6US deaths 42,884

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 2003.

In 2003, 3,169 people died in 2,874 fatal crashes in Florida, 18.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2002 (3,136) and 2003 (3,169).

Florida accounted for 7.4% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureFlorida 2003Florida 2002United States 2003
Deaths3,1693,13642,884
Fatal crashes2,8742,81038,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents18.618.814.8
Crashes with a drinking driver34%34%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 66 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Miami-Dade County29232311.43,086
Palm Beach County19020713.11,926
Hillsborough County18919712.52,124
Broward County1771859.12,444
Orange County15416710.91,776
Duval County11712211.61,586
Lee County11112013.91,105
Marion County9611526.8926
Polk County9811313.21,328
Pinellas County9810310.71,197
Volusia County859215.31,205
Brevard County798713.2907
Pasco County818312.6979
Collier County677818.7425
Manatee County697616.6649
Lake County627116.0613
Sarasota County666914.5577
Osceola County495612.0618
Escambia County404212.7587
Indian River County324224.4247
St. Lucie County354110.5430
Bay County364020.0346
Santa Rosa County343717.8210
Leon County343612.0362
Hernando County333415.6361
Citrus County313319.4301
Martin County273319.9262
Columbia County273243.3231
Alachua County283110.6526
St. Johns County29309.0353
Okaloosa County242712.2307
Monroe County232632.1177
Jackson County212448.0174
Putnam County192431.0272
Seminole County20234.7420
Okeechobee County182149.6128
Highlands County162119.1253
Walton County162022.3228
Charlotte County19199.0285
Gadsden County131840.8147
Clay County17177.2266
Flagler County161712.4207
Bradford County111553.483
Levy County101531.4180
Suwannee County141429.5167
Nassau County121413.4166
Sumter County12138.4241
Hendry County111226.0138
Baker County51240.972
DeSoto County91129.9134
Hamilton County91069.869
Hardee County8934.5100
Wakulla County8924.265
Dixie County8845.457
Gilchrist County8839.551
Madison County8843.669
Taylor County8836.664
Liberty County6788.015
Holmes County5735.270
Glades County6645.789
Gulf County4637.840
Calhoun County5537.755
Franklin County5538.526
Union County4425.437
Jefferson County3425.149
Washington County3311.374

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am4.2%
1am3.6%
2am4.8%
3am2.7%
4am2.8%
5am2.6%
6am3.6%
7am3.4%
8am2.9%
9am2.8%
10am3.2%
11am3.6%
12pm3.9%
1pm4.5%
2pm4.3%
3pm4.7%
4pm5.1%
5pm5%
6pm4.4%
7pm6.7%
8pm5.6%
9pm5.7%
10pm5.8%
11pm4.2%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Florida in 2003?

3,169 people in 2,874 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 18.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Florida had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Miami-Dade County with 323 deaths in 292 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in Florida?

3,169 deaths against 3,136 in 2002 (+1%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.