Part of being a good driver is knowing not just the basic rules of the road, but it is also knowing all those other little details that go along with driving. Over the years, some beliefs about driving have become ingrained in our culture. Perhaps it is because it was taught to us as young drivers and we have passed it along to the next generation. These beliefs may even be what was taught to us in our driving course when we were learning to drive. But, as with anything, time and experience often bring about change. Things that were once deemed necessary, appropriate, or best may have evolved over the years to other, safer practices. Let’s take a look at some common driving beliefs and examine their validity.
It is the law to have your headlights on during rain.
This is a fact here in the state of Florida. If your windshield wipers are on, then your headlights must be illuminated. This is not a law in every state.
It is best to have your hands at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions on your steering wheel.
This is obviously not a law. How would that possibly be enforced? However, many of us were taught that those were the safest positions for our hands while driving. Alas, time has brought about a change to this belief. It is now considered safest to drive with your hands at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others, as well. The main reason noted for this change is due to the invention of airbags. If an airbag deploys from your steering wheel during an accident, your hands or arms are more likely to be injured or to injure you if they are in the 10:00 and 2:00 positions. You may wonder how they could injure you. They could be propelled by the deployed airbag into your own face causing injury. This is less likely to occur at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. All that to say, throw out what you were taught and switch your hand positions right away!
I can talk on my phone, just not text, while driving.
The laws concerning cell phone use while driving have been confusing in Florida, mainly because of a recent law change as well as a false news story that circulated on social media, so let’s set the record straight. You CAN TALK on your phone while driving. This is illegal in some states, but it is still legal in Florida. You can still hold your phone while talking. It is not required to be hands-free. You can NOT TEXT while driving. You can text while your vehicle is stopped, such as at a stoplight. You can NOT talk on your phone while in a school zone or construction zone unless it is hands-free. So, you can see why it is a bit confusing. The portion of the law that was recently added is that part referring to the school and construction zones.
Those are just a few driving facts (some true, some fictional) that we thought needed to be clarified. We hope you found them helpful. At Nance Cacciatore Law we specialize in personal injury law. As you can imagine, automobile accidents cause a great deal of the personal injuries that we see with our clients. We would much prefer that all drivers drive safely so that nobody is ever hurt in an automobile accident. However, if you have been injured due to an accident, please give us a call today. We do not take any fees until your case is won. What have you got to lose by calling us? Nothing! So, give us a call. We look forward to working with you.
