Defensive Driving in Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg – Rule Number 4
Do you often drive with a water or soda bottle? Be sure to be extra careful as water and soda bottles can roll around and become a hazard. If you drop them or jerk suddenly they can roll under the brake pedal. Trying to brake with a full water bottle under your pedal is a nightmare. You pump and press and barely stop moving. Make sure all objects, and in particular round objects are secured.
Also try to avoid smoking and eating while driving. If you smoke, you run the risk of the ember falling off the cigarette or dropping the cigarette all together. Your first instinct is to find it before it burns you or your interior. Don’t do it. Let it burn, pull over to the side of the road and then find it. If you are eating and driving, you have a good chance of spilling hot food or cold drinks on yourself. Your first instinct is to panic. Instead, calmly pull over to the side of the road to attend to the mess.
One last ‘distraction’ to be careful of is children. If you have a young child that is crying, you can attempt to soothe them with your voice, but if they do not calm down, do not try to attend them while driving. You need to pull over to the side of the road to care for them and calm them down. Older children can be particularly troublesome. They can get out of control. Rule of thumb is do not start discussions about anything that can have a negative ending. Do not leave the school yard talking about negative things that have happened, punishments or anything else that could lead to an argument. Make your car an argument free zone. If your child is intentionally antagonizing you, ignore them and deal with them when you get home. Keep your mind clear and your focus on the road to ensure that you and your precious cargo make it home safely.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, call Personal Injury Attorney Chelsie M. Lamie at 727-501-3464 for a free consultation. You can also learn more about Attorney Lamie by visiting www.chelsielamie.com.