Latest Blogs

"We want to keep you advised of important safety news. Rather than writing long blogs on these topics, we believe it will be more helpful to you if we provide short summaries so we can cover many more topics. This is the first of an on-going series of 'Driver Alerts'. Let us know on Facebook and Twitter if you find this useful and important information," said Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Removing impaired drivers from our roadways

The Sheriff's offices of Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties want your help in removing impaired drivers form the roadways.  They are no longer going to simply make this a seasonal issue, but an everyday one to get impaired drivers off the road. If you see someone engaging in reckless driving or someone who appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, please call 911 and report the incident.

Are your tires too old to be safe?

According to the not-for-profit Tire Industry Association, owners of classic cars, camper/trailer recreational vehicles and any vehicle which is not used on a regular basis need to realize that their tires will get old despite the remaining tread life. When tires are not used, they get old simply by sitting. Tires deteriorate from the sun, heat, and simply by having the weight of the vehicle on them. Instead, remove the tires and store them in a dry dark cool location in airtight plastic bags which are available from tire dealers or alternatively, you can use trash bags. Vacuum cleaners can be used to draw out the air from the bags. Once the air is out, you can seal them with tape. (Source: Tire Industry Association)

Many tire sellers in Florida, such as Costco, have policies where they, for safety concerns, do not repair tires older than 5 years. The Tire Industry Association is in agreement with this thinking.

It is not recommended that tires be stored in garages near electric motors such as HVAC systems  as this exposes tires, not stored in air-removed bags, to ozone which causes deterioration of the sidewalls of the tires.

Warning - cold medications and driving do not mix

There is a hidden hazard in certain cold medicines according to the AARP (American Association of  Retired Persons) bulletin January/February 2015. Cold medicines containing antihistamines such as Benadryl and chlor-trimetoncan cause sleepiness and impaired coordination. They have a negative impact on judgment and slow reaction time.  All of the side effects can create impaired driving. Most of these antihistamines only last four to six hours in the system. Drivers should not take cold medications if they are going to be driving in that timeframe. (Source: AARP)

Distracted teens

According to a recent national study released in December 2014 by the Michigan Transportation Research Institute, teenage drivers respond to one or more texts each time they drive.  Since in Florida, texting while driving is currently only a secondary offense, it is imperative for parents or guardians of teenage drivers to "lay down" the law with their teens about distracted driving. Setting a good example by not texting and driving ourselves, may go a long way to getting our teens to comply with "no texting and driving."

Naples Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.