Alcohol-Impaired Driving Incidents in Panama City, Florida, and Surrounding Counties
This document outlines the occurrence of alcohol-impaired driving incidents resulting in vehicular collisions within Panama City, Florida, and nearby counties. The information herein is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice.
Bay County
Bay County, home to Panama City, tops the list. Its mix of city folk and beach-goers makes for a perfect storm of drunk driving. Spring break and summer are the worst, with out-of-towners flooding in. U.S. 98 and Panama City Beach are trouble spots.
Escambia County
Escambia’s got Pensacola and a bunch of bars. It’s not right next door to Panama City, but it’s terrible for drunk driving, too. Being next to Alabama doesn’t help – different booze laws mean more drunk drivers crossing the border.
Okaloosa County
Okaloosa has Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Tourists love it, and so do drunk drivers. U.S. 98 runs through here, too, and it’s a mess during vacation season.
Walton County
Walton’s between Panama City and Destin. It’s full of pretty beaches and drunk tourists. Places like Santa Rosa Beach and Seaside see a lot of DUIs, especially on weekends and holidays.
Leon County
Leon is a bit far from Panama City, but it’s worth mentioning. It has Tallahassee and Florida State University. Lots of drunk driving happens during football games and holidays.
Why It’s So Bad
Tourism is a significant factor. Panama City Beach and other spots draw in many visitors who don’t know the roads. The area’s full of bars and clubs, especially during spring break. More cars on the road during peak seasons means more chances for drunk-driving crashes.
How to Stay Safe
- If you’re in Panama City or nearby, be especially cautious during tourist season.
- Watch for drunk drivers, particularly at busy intersections.
- Always have a Panama City car accident lawyer’s phone number with you.
Bay County has the worst drunk driving crashes around Panama City, but the other counties mentioned aren’t far behind. Tourists, nightlife, and seasonal traffic all contribute to the problem. Be careful out there.