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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?
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Do we all have to wear our seatbelts?
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Most states have passed mandatory seatbelt
laws for the driver of the car.
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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Also, read the next question and answer.
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What are some of the road scams
that I need to know about?
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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 it's just an urban
myth, but our local police put out a memo about this to all
the Rental Companies this year.
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Beware the pull over. If you’re in a new
car coming from the airport that's so full it barely clears
the ground or you have those out of state plates, you’re 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, you'll want to be careful about where
you pull over if you need to, be sure to pick a well-lit public
place.
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Stick to the major roads, since you don't
know the side streets you might just pick the one all the locals
avoid. You'll 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?
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Always keep your car doors locked.
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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.
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If you have to leave your valuables in the
car, they go in the trunk.
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Lock the doors since most cars have a trunk
release inside that doesn't 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.
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Don't 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 newspapger
or magazine to wrap around the outside of your map or guidebook
so you wont' stand out as a tourist.
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