Crash Hotspots in the Fort Myers Area: A Review of Lee County Traffic Safety Data
Traffic crashes remain a serious safety concern across Southwest Florida. As the population of Lee County continues to grow, major road corridors are experiencing heavier traffic volumes, more complex turning patterns, and increased congestion during peak hours.
Crash data for Florida is maintained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which collects reports submitted by law enforcement agencies across the state. These reports are compiled into public dashboards and annual “Traffic Crash Facts” reports used by transportation planners and safety researchers.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) also provides crash-data analysis tools and notes that crash data is processed in stages as reports are finalized.
Local transportation planning organizations, including the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), often use a High-Injury Network approach, which focuses on the roads and intersections where the largest share of serious crashes occur.
This approach recognizes that a relatively small number of high-volume corridors account for a significant percentage of traffic injuries.
If you were injured in a collision, learn more about your rights after a car accident in Fort Myers.
Intersections With High Crash Activity in the Region
Because intersection-level crash totals are not always published in one centralized list, this analysis relies on publicly reported figures and local studies referencing high-crash locations across Lee County.
Some intersections frequently cited in public reporting include:
Corkscrew Road & Three Oaks Parkway (Estero)
• 179 total crashes reported during the 2017–2021 reporting period
U.S. 41 & Estero Parkway (Estero)
• 165 total crashes reported
U.S. 41 & Corkscrew Road (Estero)
• 158 total crashes reported
These intersections sit along heavily traveled corridors connecting Fort Myers, Estero, and Bonita Springs.
Additional Crash Context in Lee County
Other intersections across Lee County have also experienced repeated crash activity.
Pine Island Road & Stringfellow Road
• 17 reported crashes between 2017–2021
• Approximately 12,000 vehicles travel through the area daily
Within the Fort Myers area, crash concentrations commonly align with several major arterial corridors, including:
- U.S. 41 (Cleveland Avenue)
- Colonial Boulevard
- Fowler Street
- Daniels Parkway
These roads handle significant daily traffic volumes and include many intersections with complex turning movements.
Factors That May Contribute to Crash Risk
Several factors may increase crash risk at busy intersections across Southwest Florida:
• High traffic volumes along major corridors such as U.S. 41
• Seasonal population increases during tourist season
• Complex intersections with heavy turning movements
• Congestion during peak commuting hours
• Distracted driving
• Rapid regional growth and development near major roadways
Transportation planners continue to study these factors as part of ongoing safety improvement efforts.
Driver Safety Tips for Navigating Busy Intersections
Drivers traveling through high-traffic corridors in Fort Myers and Lee County can reduce their risk by following a few basic safety practices:
• Maintain extra following distance in stop-and-go traffic
• Avoid entering intersections late as signals change
• Merge into turn lanes early rather than making last-second lane changes
• Avoid phone use while driving, especially in congested areas
• Consider alternate routes when possible during peak traffic periods
Sources
- FLHSMV Traffic Crash Reports portal
- FLHSMV Florida Crash Dashboard (Tableau)
- FLHSMV Crash Dashboard info page
- Florida Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2023 (PDF)
- FDOT Crash Data Systems and Mapping
- FDOT SSOGis Query Tool home
- Lee County MPO SS4A page
- Lee County MPO SS4A crash dashboard (ArcGIS)
- Gulf Coast News Now (Estero study)
- Gulf Coast News Now (Pine Island Rd & Stringfellow Rd context)
- Gulf Coast News Now (Fort Myers police traffic operation)