A new report finds that Florida’s rural roads have nearly double the fatality rate compared to other state roads, with poor conditions and inadequate safety features. State officials recently committed more than $100 million to improving rural infrastructure systems. 

A report published on Friday by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, finds that Florida’s rural roads have a fatality rate nearly double that of other roads in the state.

According to the findings, non-Interstate rural roads in the state saw 2.61 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2022, nearly double the rate of 1.40 on other Florida roads. The state ranked fifth nationally in rural road fatalities, with 728 people killed on these roads last year. Currently, 4 percent of Florida’s rural roads are classified as being in poor condition, while 6 percent of the state’s rural bridges are deemed structurally deficient, limiting their capacity to handle larger vehicles, including agricultural trucks, school buses, and emergency vehicles.

The report points to poor road conditions and inadequate safety features as major contributing factors. Many rural roads in Florida are narrow, TRIP notes, with limited shoulders, sharp curves, and few safety measures such as guardrails or rumble strips.

“This report underscores the need for infrastructure investment in rural America to ensure the roads, bridges, and highways our nation’s equipment manufacturers rely on are efficient, safe, and reliable,” said Todd Stucke, president of Kubota Tractor Corporation and chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “Allowing it to fall into disrepair will not only cost us more to modernize later, but it will also disrupt our industry’s ability to remain competitive globally.”

The research group also states in the report that rural roads are “necessary for supporting key sectors like agriculture, freight, and tourism,” but deteriorating conditions are creating delays, raising transportation costs, and limiting access to essential services in many rural communities, potentially leading to long-term repercussions for the state’s economy.

“Transportation infrastructure provides critical connections for our rural communities nationwide, supporting their health and driving commerce. Addressing the significant deficiencies outlined in this report is essential not only for safety but also for ensuring that our rural communities continue to succeed,” said John Drake, vice president for transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in 2021, is highlighted by TRIP as a potential remedy to deteriorating roadway infrastructure. The legislation is providing $454 billion over five years for road and bridge improvements across the U.S., with $2 billion specifically set aside for rural transportation projects. The funding represents a 31 percent increase in federal investment over the previous transportation program. However, the TRIP report notes that the U.S. still faces a $198 billion backlog in necessary repairs and upgrades for rural roads and bridges, with $97 billion needed for road rehabilitation and $53 billion for bridge repairs.

“With the support provided by the IIJA, we have an unprecedented opportunity to modernize these vital connections and strengthen the foundation of rural America’s economic future,” Drake added.

Florida is expected to benefit from the IIJA’s funding, but the report raises concerns over whether the allocated funds are sufficient to address the full scope of the state’s rural infrastructure needs. Earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a $122 million investment in infrastructure projects across more than 30 rural Florida counties, aimed at improving roads, bridges, and drainage systems, with a significant portion allocated to areas affected by recent hurricanes.

The money will be distributed through the Florida Department of Transportation’s Small County Outreach Program and Small County Resurfacing Assistance Program, which provide financial support to small county governments for projects such as bridge rehabilitation, road paving, and improving drainage systems to prevent flooding.

“We have over 23 million people now in the state of Florida. We have industries that really rely on us continuing to modernize and taking care of our infrastructure, whether it’s agriculture, whether it’s trucking, whether it’s shipping, we need to do this, and Florida’s rural communities are a big part of that in terms of how the economy functions,” DeSantis said.

Among the counties receiving portions of the funds are Bradford County, which will receive $4.25 million, Levy County with $2.5 million, and Suwannee County, allocated $3.6 million. Putnam County will receive $9.12 million, the largest single award.