I read about those stats a few days ago. Exactly why Florida is so much more dangerous than California is hard to fathom. I've not spent much time in California (and no time riding), so I really can't compare the two. But here is what I know about Florida and the bike/car ecology:

1. Governmentally, Florida is closer to an old south state than a northern state. Small government, low taxes, lots of money spent on prisons, next to none spent on public transit. Roads are for cars, and things like wide shoulders and bike lanes cost too much.

2. Because the state is big and flat, the roads are straight. Narrow, straight roads make for dangerous roads.

3. The year-round cycling bit is something of a myth. Winter and part of the spring and fall are nice for riding. but much of the year is simply too hot for most folks. You can put on enough clothes and ride fast enough to stay warm, but you can't take off enough or ride slowly enough to stay cool. Only serious cyclists ride May - September.

4. There are a lot of foreigners, lost tourists, and old folks - the kind of drivers who might be a bit more dangerous to cyclists.

5. Florida suspends driver's licenses for all sorts of reasons. I spend much of my day dealing with people who have lost their licenses due to failing to pay child support. Many of those folks ride bikes because there is no public transportation. Many of them get hit by cars.

Those are just the ideas I can think of offhand. Any other thoughts?