Hurricane season has arrived here in Florida. It’s always possible that you could get stuck out in the middle of heavy winds and rains while in your vehicle. If this happens to you, it’s important you know the steps you can take to stay safe.
Here are some tips to keep in mind.
- Never attempt to drive through flooding: Flooded roads are frequently much deeper than they look when you’re approaching them, and the floods may have wiped away the roads below the surface. Research indicates about 32 percent of all deaths in floods occur in vehicles. The water doesn’t have to be particularly deep for it to take control of your vehicle motion. Find another way around.
- Watch for pavement cracks: Hurricanes can occasionally result in risks such as cracked pavement, bridge damage and downed power lines. You should avoid driving through these areas.
- Find shelter: If the winds are extremely high, or the storms extremely strong, sometimes the best decision is to seek shelter. If you are not near any buildings where you can pull off to the side and get inside, you may need to seek a ditch in the ground.
- After a disaster: If you’re out and driving after a hurricane has already passed through the area, make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas and follow all posted signs. Those signs are there to direct you around areas that are damaged and unsafe. Be prepared for it to take significantly longer to get anywhere, and don’t get frustrated—everyone else is dealing with the same circumstances.
For more tips and information about driving during hurricane season, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernadnez & Walsh.