The author was on a roll, and then he decided to bring Florida DOT and Florida drivers into the article. For anyone that's driven in or through Florida you've seen first hand some of the worst traffic engineering in the US. FDOT excels at creating weird intersections, dangerous on and off ramps, etc.
Likewise Florida drivers along the east coast are some of the worst I've seen. Even with 12' lanes they seldom get up to the speed limit. Driving in Jacksonville during rush hour is not for the faint of heart. Miami traffic is own special version rapid lane switching without signals that is the hallmark of Boston. Except in Miami, lane changes can take 1/4 of a mile and blinker can stay on for miles afterwards.
Should have offered up another place to try the idea out, I'd suggest Dallas. Those drivers would be happy with 8 and a half foot lanes, I've seen them shove giant Dodge and Ford pickups in to smaller spaces at 60MPH.
"It is striking to hear this news from FDOT, the agency that may preside over the greatest pedestrian massacre in U.S. history. Four out of the five deadliest American cities for walking are currently in Florida. This is by design: in no other state has the DOT had such a powerful influence on the design of urban streets."
I've lived in Boston, Jacksonville, and Miami and i think you're right on point. Miami has a special intersection (pun!) of retirees, newer immigrants, tourists, and young people (not saying any of these groups are bad drivers as a rule, but they certainly have a wide array of driving styles); combined with poor infrastructure design it's a deadly mix. I have friends who've moved from Miami to LA, and they all agree the traffic in South Florida is worse.
Likewise Florida drivers along the east coast are some of the worst I've seen. Even with 12' lanes they seldom get up to the speed limit. Driving in Jacksonville during rush hour is not for the faint of heart. Miami traffic is own special version rapid lane switching without signals that is the hallmark of Boston. Except in Miami, lane changes can take 1/4 of a mile and blinker can stay on for miles afterwards.
Should have offered up another place to try the idea out, I'd suggest Dallas. Those drivers would be happy with 8 and a half foot lanes, I've seen them shove giant Dodge and Ford pickups in to smaller spaces at 60MPH.