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It is spring break season in Florida. With families and college students from around the country descending on Florida’s beach towns and amusement parks, this, unfortunately, means that traffic—and traffic-related accidents—are a serious concern for locals and visitors alike. While it is not possible to protect yourself completely, there are steps you can take to mitigate your risk of being seriously injured in a car accident during spring break in Florida. Here are 10 tips from Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A..

Tip #1: Follow the Rules of the Road

The rules of the road exist for a reason. From speed limits to passing restrictions, and from the requirement to yield when merging to the requirement to stop completely at stop signs, the rules of the road are designed to help keep everyone as safe as possible. To help protect yourself and others, you can commit yourself to following the rules of the road each time you get behind the wheel.

Tip #2: Put Down Your Phone

Distracted driving is dangerous. These days, the primary distraction for drivers of all ages is handheld cell phone use. Talking on the phone or texting about spring break plans, scrolling social media, and looking up places to eat are all dangerous distractions that can lead to serious—or even fatal—collisions.

With this in mind, it is best to put down your phone when you get in the driver’s seat. Also, keep in mind that handheld texting is illegal in Florida, as is talking on a handheld cell phone in a school zone or work zone. If you need to make a call, respond to a text, or figure out your next destination, find a safe place to pull over before picking up your phone.

Tip #3: Make Sure You Have a Safe Ride Home if You Plan to Drink

If you plan to drink during spring break in Florida, make sure you have a safe ride home. Driving under the influence is also extremely dangerous, and it is also against the law. Drunk drivers are dangers to themselves and everyone around them, and while drunk driving accidents are a concern year-round, they are a particular concern during the spring break season. 

Tip #4: Avoid the Most Dangerous Times to Drive

Another way you can help keep yourself safe during spring break season in Florida is by avoiding the most dangerous driving times. These are generally the times that the most distracted and drunk drivers are likely to be on the roads, such as Friday and Saturday nights. If you can avoid areas with bars and restaurants that are popular with spring break visitors, this can help to reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident as well.

Tip #5: Be Patient

When driving in Florida during spring break, patience is important. Getting where you need to go may take longer than usual, and this is a fact that you may simply need to accept. Resist any temptation to speed, run red lights or stop signs, or weave through traffic. All of these are high-risk driving behaviors that can put you and others at risk for serious accident-related injuries.

Tip #6: When in Doubt, Slow Down

When in doubt, slow down. This is good advice any time of year, but it can be especially important during spring break. If you see a vehicle ahead of you that is swerving, braking, and accelerating abruptly or exhibiting any other signs of possible drunk or distracted driving, slow down and give yourself enough room to stay safe. Likewise, if you are not sure whether you can make it through a yellow light or your visibility at an intersection is limited due to high pedestrian traffic, put safety first and err on the side of caution.

Tip #7: Leave Plenty of Buffer

In this same vein, it is always a good idea to leave plenty of buffer between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you enough time to slow down if the vehicle in front of you slams on the brakes or stops unexpectedly. There is no reason to tailgate. As a general rule of thumb, you should pass landmarks on the side of the road at least two seconds after the vehicle in front of you. If you pass the same landmark in less than two seconds, you may not have time to brake safely or perform an evasive maneuver if necessary. If road or weather conditions are poor, double your following distance.

Tip #8: Leave Early

During spring break, traffic tends to get worse as the afternoon approaches, and it tends to get bad in the opposite direction during the late afternoon hours and into the evening. With this in mind, a good safety tip is to leave early if you can. If your plans are to go to the beach, get up and go before the rush starts. Not only will this give you a better chance to find parking, but it will help minimize your risk of being involved in an accident as well.

Tip #9:  Make Sure You Know Your Route

No matter where you are going, it is a good idea to make sure you know your route. This way, you will not need to rely as much on your GPS directions, and this will allow you to keep your focus on the road

Tip #10: Make Sure Your Vehicle is Ready for the Road

Finally, you should make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. If your brakes are not working as well as they should be, or if your tires are in need of replacement, perform all necessary maintenance as soon as possible. If you have a rental car and something seems to be wrong, do not ignore the problem. Instead, contact the rental company and see if you can get a safer replacement vehicle.

Speak with a Fort Myers Accident Attorney for Free

We hope you can avoid being involved in a car accident during spring break in Florida. But if you cannot, we are here to help. To speak with Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey about your legal rights for free, call Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239-337-7483 or Statewide at 888-477-4839 or request a free consultation online at SpiveyLaw.com today.

Randall L. Spivey was named to the 2023 Florida Super Lawyer List for exhibiting excellence in his practice of personal injury. In addition, Attorney Randall L. Spivey is among only 1 percent of Florida lawyers who have the honor of Board Certification in civil trial law, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for competency and experience. Martindale Hubbell also recognized Mr. Spivey as a Preeminent Attorney. This recognition is the highest rating standard, signifying the greatest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards.