New Year’s Eve is around the corner. While it’s an evening meant to celebrate the coming year, it also puts Florida drivers at risk of being in an auto accident. If you’re planning on going out on New Year’s Eve, here are some safe driving tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.
1. Don’t Drink and Drive
The easiest way you can avoid a car accident on New Year’s Eve is to avoid drinking and driving. Alcohol plays a big part in many New Year’s Eve celebrations, so if you plan on drinking, you should devise a plan to either spend the night at your friend’s house or utilize the services of either a Lyft or Uber.
In fact, there are approximately 100,000 Uber drivers in the state of Florida. If you can’t afford an Uber, there are always options for public transportation or talking to one of your friends or relatives about being a designated driver.
2. Stay Alert
If you’re driving on New Year’s Eve, it’s recommended that you stay alert to your surroundings. It’s not unusual for Florida residents or businesses to set fireworks off on New Year’s Eve that will be visible from many of our major roads. Furthermore, since the rate of alcohol consumption and drunk drivers tends to increase over the New Year’s holiday, you may witness more reckless driving behaviors on the road such as speeding, swerving, and weaving in and out of traffic.
By staying alert to your surroundings, you can help minimize the risk of getting into an accident that is otherwise caused by cognitive distractions such as looking at fireworks or being surprised by a reckless driver.
3. Obey Traffic Laws
You should also obey local traffic laws. While you should always look both ways before making a turn at an intersection and follow the speed limit, practicing these safe driving habits is even more important on New Year’s Eve. Not only may drunk drivers not see you as you try to make a left-hand turn, but pedestrians may be drunk and not aware of oncoming traffic or adhere to pedestrian walkways. This is why you, as the driver, have to stay vigilant and obey traffic laws so you can avoid a car accident and a pedestrian accident.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured in car accidents in Coconut Creek, Plantation, Pompano Beach, and Pembroke Pines, and throughout Florida. Call (954) 525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.