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ROAD SAFETY
Do we all have to wear
our seatbelts?
Why do summer
rainstorms cause so many accidents?
How do I avoid
confrontations on the road?
What are some of the
road scams that I need to know about?
How else can I avoid
being the victim of a crime?
Do we all have to wear
our seatbelts?
Most states have passed mandatory
seatbelt laws for the driver of the car.
In many states, such as Florida, both
passengers in the front seats are required to wear seatbelts,
regardless of age.
Most states have special seatbelt
laws for minors and require child seats for young children.
Not wearing a seatbelt could be a
violation of your personal automobile insurance policy.
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Why do summer
rainstorms cause so many accidents?
These storms often occur during the
heat of the day, when the heat has pooled oil on the surface of the
road, before the rain has had the time to wash the oil off the
surface. This will first make for an extremely slick and dangerous
combination.
You should slow down, allow for extra
braking room and use your low beam headlights during rainstorms.
Using your low beam headlights in a rainstorm is law in Florida and
many other states.
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How do I avoid
confrontations on the road?
Avoid the temptation of road rage.
Honking and yelling at the drivers around you is probably more
likely to make someone get out their tire iron than to help get
traffic moving. Be patient.
Also, read the next question and
answer.
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What are some of the
road scams that I need to know about?
Avoid flashing your lights at other
cars that are driving without their lights on at night. This used to
be a common courtesy, but unfortunately some gangs will drive around
with their lights off and pick the first car to flash them as a
victim to harass. You may think its just an urban myth, but our
local police put out a memo about this to all the Rental Companies
this year.
Beware the pull over. If youre in a
new car coming from the airport thats so full it barely clears the
ground or you have those out of state plates, youre targeted as an
easy mark with a big payoff. Sometimes, criminals will try to get
you to pull over by pointing and saying something is wrong with your
car. They might even fake a small accident, a little tap on your
bumper to get you to pull over. Since this has been used as a scam,
youll want to be careful about where you pull over if you need to,
be sure to pick a well-lit public place.
Stick to the major roads, since you
dont know the side streets you might just pick the one all the
locals avoid. Youll also find more people and better lighting on
the major roads; these factors make the "pull over" riskier for the
criminals.
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How else can I avoid
being the victim of a crime?
Always keep your car doors locked.
Park only in well-lit parking lots.
Keep an eye out for loiterers when you enter a parking lot. Check
the lot for safety before opening your doors.
Walk with confidence, strong body
language will let criminals know you're not a victim.
Consider using valet parking or park
as close to the main entrance as possible. Remember to secure your
valuables before you turn the keys over to the valet.
If you have to leave your valuables
in the car, they go in the trunk.
Lock the doors since most cars have a
trunk release inside that doesnt need the key to pop the trunk.
Many new cars also have a back seat pass through that makes for easy
entrance into the trunk.
Dont make yourself a target,
flashing expensive jewelry, lots of cash or even tourist brochures
and maps left in the seats can label you as a potential victim.
Use a local newspaper or magazine to
wrap around the outside of your map or guidebook so you wont' stand
out as a tourist.
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