What Should I do IF ….
What Should I do IF…… There’s always something to worry about when you are driving in another country. We’ll give you a few bits of advice on what to do about them.
We are often asked, “What should I do IF …..”
— My car breaks down?
— I get stopped by a law enforcement officer?
— I am passing an accident or other incident on the road?
— I’ve had a few drinks?
There are potentially hundreds of questions to be answered about driving on America’s roads.
If you have a “What Should I do IF….” question, please contact us about it. We’ll put the question and answer on the site and you will have helped some people by asking.
What Should I do IF … My Car Breaks Down?
Florida driving tips – breakdowns In this situation, you should obviously call the car hire company and have them arrange rescue, repair, and replacement as appropriate.
But in the immediate situation, you need to make sure you and your car are safe and not causing an obstruction to anyone.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) offers this advice:
• Signal, slow down gradually, and carefully pull off the road on to the shoulder.
• Switch on emergency/safety flashers.
• Raise vehicle hood
• Never stand behind or directly in front of your vehicle.
• Remain in your vehicle unless you think your vehicle may be struck from behind.
• Call or wait for assistance.
If you find yourself in this situation you will probably be very glad to have packed some drinks. I always travel with an unopened bottle of water in the boot of the car just in case.
What Should I do IF … I get stopped by a law enforcement officer?
Florida driving tips – stopped by FHP The officers of the Florida Highway Patrol are always extremely polite and usually very understanding of small errors made by non-American drivers.
However, it is their job to make sure you don’t make the same mistake again so they will often pull you over and give you a bit of advice in that polite but official tone they teach them at the academy!
Don’t be fooled though. These guys carry guns and they are trained to use them if they have to. You don’t want to find yourself in a difficult spot so, if you do happen to be pulled over, remember these simple guidelines.
1. Pull slowly and carefully off the road or to the closest shoulder of the road.
2. Turn off the engine.
3. Place your hands on the steering wheel where they are clearly visible.
4. At night, turn on your interior light or, if possible, stop in a well lit area.
5. Remain in your vehicle unless asked to do otherwise.
And whatever you do, remember that you MUST CARRY YOUR CAR HIRE DOCUMENTS AND DRIVING LICENSE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. If you don’t have these documents and you are stopped, you can be fined on the spot or even arrested.
That’s NOT the sort of amusing holiday story you want to tell your friends when you get back home!
What Should I do IF … I am passing an accident or other incident on the road?
Since May 1st 2002 there has been something known as the “MOVE OVER ACT” in Florida.
This law requires you to slow down and move over wherever possible when you see an accident, other incident or even a police officer who has pulled a motorist over on any highway or road.
You should slow down to a speed that is 20mph LESS than the posted speed limit or to 5mph if the limit is 20mph or less
The law is designed to keep you, other road-users, emergency vehicle crews and police officers safe.
During the five-year period from 1996 to 2000, motorists in Florida crashed into working law enforcement vehicles that were stopped/parked along Florida roadways 1,793 times, resulting in five deaths and 419 injuries.
Slow down and keep everybody safe.
What Should I do IF … I’ve had a few drinks?
DON’T DRIVE!
The Florida Highway Patrol has no mercy for drunk drivers at all. Just simply don’t take that chance.
Personally, I tend to drink ice tea or soft drinks while I’m out and then have a few beers when I get back to the hotel if I want them.
Now you know the answers to a few “What should I do if…” questions, put your thinking cap on and ask us about any situations you can think of where you needed a bit of advice.
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