We see a lot of accidents here in the sunshine state. Many of those accidents are caused when people are sightseeing. In fact, the number of auto, bike, boat, and other vehicle accidents in the state of Florida drastically rises during peak tourism season.
Tourists largely help our economy churn, which is why we love them (you!), but we also want you to be safe. Whether or not you are coming to Florida or headed to another destination where you will rent a car or other vehicle, it’s important that you drive with safety in mind - for your benefit and for the benefit of others.
Here Is Some Great ‘Driving While Tourists’ Tips:
- Make sure that you have BlueTooth enabled inside of the car that you are renting or driving. If you don’t have any form of talking on your phone hands-free, please do not talk at all while driving. You can also pull over or stop at a rest stop to make that call. No phone call is worth your life or the life of others!
- We know that things might seem very lax on vacation (and that’s how a vacation should be!), but keep in mind that driving while drinking alcohol is still prohibited. Even if you’ve traveled to a country where it’s okay to drink and drive (we’re not sure that this exists…), be aware that your judgment is impaired under the influence. Just don’t do it.
- Realize that a boat is still a vehicle. There are traffic rules on the water. Most of the same rules that apply to cars and roads also apply to driving a boat. Remember not to drink and drive while you’re on the water, you’re still operating a vehicle.
- If you aren’t familiar with driving a motorcycle or scooter, don’t rent one. It might seem like a good idea to test out some new wheels while you’re away, but a lot of tourists die in scooter and motorcycle accidents every year.
- If you’re going to use your phone in order to navigate, make sure that you have a suction cup holder in a place that doesn’t obstruct your view. If you don’t have a holder, do not look down at your phone while driving in order to navigate - you can use voice recognition to navigate safely.
- Remember that people are living their daily lives while you are on vacation. People are rushing, trying to get to work, attempting to move throughout an area as they do regularly. If you aren’t sure where you are going, do not block traffic. Pullover, look at a map and continue on your way.
Do you have any other safe driving while on vacation tips? Let us know!
