You don’t hear the term used as often as days gone by, but “high season” for many decades in south Florida was that time of year when it seemed that half the license plates you would see on cars were from northern states and Canada. Traffic on our roads was almost impossible to get through, especially near the beach. Our roads are so crowded year-round that most people don’t even recognize when the tourists come and when they leave because they’re always here, but generally speaking November thru April are the busy months.
When you add more tourist drivers to the mix who are trying to find places they’ve never been and are driving on unfamiliar roads, you can figure out what’s going to happen: more accidents.
USA Today says:
U.S. pedestrian deaths totaled nearly 6,000 in 2017 for the second straight year amid mounting signs that walkers and drivers are dangerously distracted, according to a new study.
Although reasons for the recent rise have not been scientifically determined, experts suspect that smartphones and marijuana use are key factors in the deadly trend.
We urge people to never text and drive but apparently it is getting more and more dangerous to text and walk.
Also, follow these important safety rules for pedestrians:
- Only cross at the crosswalks.
- Watch for the white “walk” sign or symbol.
- Never assume that traffic sees you and that it is automatically safe because the sign says “walk” – LOOK IN ALL DIRECTIONS to make sure.
- At night, wear bright colors and reflective material if possible.
- Don’t walk in the roadway, stay up on the sidewalk.
Drivers: Look out for pedestrians. One of the most common accidents involving cars and pedestrians is when a car or truck is making a right turn and the pedestrian steps off into the driver’s blind spot. It’s best to hesitate, make eye contact between the driver and pedestrian, and make sure both understand who is going to wait and who is going to go. Remember, there is no reason to hurry. Slow down, look all directions, and proceed cautiously through all pedestrian crosswalks.
We have handles some truly tragic accidents where pedestrians were hit by vehicles, and we hope we never see another one. But if you are involved in a pedestrian-related accident as a driver or as the pedestrian, you do have rights under the law. Call us at 954-356-0006 and we’ll make sure the accident is thoroughly investigated and your rights are protected.
Fact: VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 116.5 million visitors traveled to Florida in 2017, an increase of 3.6 percent over last year. This number breaks down to 102.3 million domestic visitors, 10.7 million overseas visitors and 3.5 million Canadian visitors coming to the Sunshine State.
Last week, a pregnant Massachusetts woman was killed when a car drove into a Fort Lauderdale hotel’s poolside cabana while she was inside. 27-year-old Alanna DeMella died after 35-year-old Rosa Rivera Kim of Plantation lost control of the car she was driving, drove over a curb, and hit a cabana at the Riverside Hotel. DeMella’s 31-year-old husband was inside a nearby men’s room at the time of the accident. He was taken to Broward General Medical Center for minor injuries. The couple’s unborn son also died in the accident.
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