The crash data for the five-year period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 was analyzed for US 27 from the Highlands County/Glades County Line to Avon Park Cut Off Road in Polk County. The crash data was downloaded from the University of Florida's Signal Four Analytics (S4) system database.
Between the years 2019 and 2023, there was a total of 2,782 crashes. Crash totals from 2019 to 2023 show decreasing crash totals since 2021 as seen in Figure 7-1. Of the 2,782 crashes, there were 57 (2.04%) fatal crashes along US 27, 145 (5.2%) serious injury crashes, 1,062 (38%) injury crashes and 1,518 property damage only crashes (55%). There were 22 pedestrian crashes along US 27, in which ten (10) resulted in a fatality, three resulted in serious injury, eight resulted in an injury, and the remaining one (1) caused no injury. There were 21 bicycle crashes along US 27. Of these, three (3) resulted in a fatality, two resulted in serious injury, 15 crashes resulted in injuries, and one resulted in property damage only.
Figure 7-1 shows the total crashes, crash severity, crash type, as well as a heat map of all crashes along US 27. It is evident from the heat map that majority of crashes occurred around Lake Jackson in the northern region of Highlands County. Figure 7-2 shows location of fatal and serious injury crashes along US 27.
A comprehensive review of all crash types along US 27 was performed. There were 948 rear end crashes which was the predominant type of crash. Rear end crashes are common on an interrupted flow facility at intersections. As congestion increases, the probability of rear end collisions increases. Dense crash locations are US 27 at SR 64, between Sebring Parkway and South of Lakeview Dr, US 27 at SR 66 and US 27 at E Interlake Blvd/County Rd 621 E.
The second highest crash type are left turn crashes (476), followed by sideswipe crashes (345). Left turn crashes are generally caused by a motorist failing to stop at a red light or stop sign or failing to yield ROW to oncoming traffic. Sideswipes occur in an interrupted flow facility due to aggressive or negligent driving and thereby failing to keep proper lane