US 98 in Florida: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 514 fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida killed 568 people, the 9th most of 468 numbered roads in Florida. In 2024 there were 51 fatal crashes and 58 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 18 counties of Florida. All fatal crashes in Florida.
Deaths on US 98 in Florida by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 51 | 58 |
| 2023 | 36 | 40 |
| 2022 | 51 | 53 |
| 2021 | 62 | 66 |
| 2020 | 68 | 76 |
| 2019 | 63 | 72 |
| 2018 | 48 | 53 |
| 2017 | 44 | 45 |
| 2016 | 46 | 53 |
| 2015 | 45 | 52 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 98 in Florida: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Polk County had the most fatal crashes on US 98 from 2015 to 2024: 95, with 110 deaths. Polk, Bay and Okaloosa counties together held 51% of fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida from 2015 to 2024; the 15 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polk County | 7 | 95 | 110 |
| 2 | Bay County | 13 | 95 | 96 |
| 3 | Okaloosa County | 3 | 70 | 72 |
| 4 | Palm Beach County | 5 | 52 | 56 |
| 5 | Walton County | 7 | 34 | 38 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa County | 3 | 26 | 26 |
| 7 | Okeechobee County | 2 | 23 | 27 |
| 8 | Pasco County | 1 | 22 | 25 |
| 9 | Highlands County | 2 | 18 | 22 |
| 10 | Escambia County | 1 | 17 | 19 |
| 11 | Hernando County | 0 | 14 | 19 |
| 12 | Wakulla County | 1 | 13 | 18 |
| 13 | Franklin County | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Gulf County | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 15 | Martin County | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 98 in Florida
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 28 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.9 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.8%
- Feb7.4%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr10.3%
- May8.0%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug6.8%
- Sep7.2%
- Oct10.3%
- Nov7.8%
- Dec8.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a pedestrian in 22%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 14%, a rollover in 6.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 252 | 49% |
| Pedestrian | 115 | 22% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 71 | 14% |
| Rollover | 33 | 6.4% |
| Cyclist | 32 | 6.2% |
| Other | 7 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.8% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida compare with the state
The largest difference from Florida: from 2015 to 2024, 33% of fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida were in the dark on unlit roads, against 24% across Florida. Also above the Florida share: rural roads. Below it: motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Florida. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 514 crashes.
| US 98 | Florida | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 28% | 24% | above the Florida share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 35% | about the same as the Florida share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 24% | above the Florida share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 21% | about the same as the Florida share |
| Speeding | 8.0% | 9.8% | about the same as the Florida share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.5% | 7.9% | about the same as the Florida share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 45% | about the same as the Florida share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.8% | 7.6% | about the same as the Florida share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 20% | below the Florida share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 22% | 22% | about the same as the Florida share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 98 in Florida?
- 514 fatal crashes killed 568 people on US 98 in Florida from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 51 fatal crashes and 58 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 98 in Florida do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Polk County had the most fatal crashes on US 98 from 2015 to 2024: 95, with 110 deaths. Bay County was second with 95.
- When do fatal crashes on US 98 in Florida happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 28 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Florida with a page
- I-10
- I-275
- I-295
- I-4
- I-595
- I-75
- I-95
- State Highway 121
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 200
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 24
All fatal crashes in Florida, with every road ranked.
Where the US 98 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 98 in Florida (filed under 25 spellings, such as "US-98", "US-98 BACK BEACH RD", "US-98 COASTAL HWY", "US-98 EB"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.