Understanding the Risks of the Road This Spring Break
Spring Break is something that students from around the country look forward to every Spring as a welcome break from studying and tests. South Florida in particular attracts hordes of college students every year for Spring Break because of its beautiful beaches, abundant nightlife, and warm, sunny weather. In fact, Fort Lauderdale is the second-most popular Spring Break destination for college-aged travelers in the United States for 2019 according to an article recently published by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
However, while this influx of young Spring Breakers can have a positive effect on the local economy with the money being spent, the increased number of people and drivers can also pose challenges to the South Florida community.
What Road Challenges Come With Spring Break?
Excessive alcohol use. The results of a study released last year that examined 800,000 social media posts found that nearly one in 10 posts from Fort Lauderdale included a drinking-related word in their captions and that 44 percent of female students and 75 percent of male students get drunk daily during their spring break trips. While alcohol may be a common factor in Spring Break events, the reality is that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Therefore, both locals and visitors alike should keep an eye out for other drivers who are driving erratically and call 9-1-1 to report them.
Unfamiliar road and weather conditions. While Spring Break may mean warm weather in South Florida, many other parts of the country are still battling cold fronts. For this reason, those who choose to drive down from other areas of the country should research weather reports for the various areas along the route before leaving. Additionally, South Florida is known for sudden heavy rainstorms that out of town drivers may be unfamiliar with. Drivers should prepare for these unfamiliar road conditions.
What Can You do to Help Keep Your Spring Breaker Safe on the Road?
- Offer to chip in on airfare. If your child and his or her friends do not have a vehicle with them, then this eliminates the possibility of a car accident occurring that you would probably end up having to financially help with.
- Purchase gift cards for ridesharing apps before your child leaves. Ridesharing applications such as Uber allow an individual to purchase and send another user a set monetary amount for a future ride. Doing so in advance eliminates any excuse your child could make about not having money for a ride.
- Talk about alcohol and drug use. Even if you think that your child would never use alcohol excessively or experiment with drugs, it is still better to have this kind of conversation before your child is across the country on Spring Break. Even a child who has been regularly attending college parties may find the real world South Florida environment to be a new experience.
Have You Or a Loved One Been Injured?
Whether you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident while on Spring Break in Florida or have been injured by someone who is celebrating their Spring Break in Florida, we can help. Contact the experienced Miami car accident attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today and we will help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Daytona, Jacksonville, and Bradenton areas.
Resource:
sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/spring-guide/fl-fea-spring-break-travel-fort-lauderdale-20190213-story.html
