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 any numbered road in Florida. In 2024 there were 51 fatal crashes and 58 deaths on the road.
An 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 45 | 52 |
| 2016 | 46 | 53 |
| 2017 | 44 | 45 |
| 2018 | 48 | 53 |
| 2019 | 63 | 72 |
| 2020 | 68 | 76 |
| 2021 | 62 | 66 |
| 2022 | 51 | 53 |
| 2023 | 36 | 40 |
| 2024 | 51 | 58 |
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. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polk | 7 | 95 | 110 |
| 2 | Bay | 13 | 95 | 96 |
| 3 | Okaloosa | 3 | 70 | 72 |
| 4 | Palm Beach | 5 | 52 | 56 |
| 5 | Walton | 7 | 34 | 38 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | 3 | 26 | 26 |
| 7 | Okeechobee | 2 | 23 | 27 |
| 8 | Pasco | 1 | 22 | 25 |
| 9 | Highlands | 2 | 18 | 22 |
| 10 | Escambia | 1 | 17 | 19 |
| 11 | Hernando | 0 | 14 | 19 |
| 12 | Wakulla | 1 | 13 | 18 |
| 13 | Franklin | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Gulf | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 15 | Martin | 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
| 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
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Florida. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 98 | Florida | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 28% | 24% | above the Florida share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 35% | below 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% | below the Florida share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 45% | below 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
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. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.