Driving in Florida is a pleasure. I have battled snow and ice in the American Heartland, roundabouts in London, and Cairo's traffic jams. Truly, to be behind the wheel in Orlando is like another ride to enjoy.
There are some things to keep in mind:
"Click it or ticket." You must wear a seat belt at all times under Florida law.
Children age 3 years and younger must be in a child safety seat.
Florida is wet. If you head out early, you'll usually find condensation on windows. It's best to have the glass clear before moving out of your parking space. Spending many days or weeks in Florida? Purchase an inexpensive squeegee and place it in the glove compartment for those misty mornings.
You'll then have to turn the air to hot and hit the defrost button (making sure that the air indicator is showing the straight arrow for fresh air, as opposed to re-circulating air). The windows should clear soon.
For rain, if you are using your wipers, then you must also turn on your low beams.
When it rains, you have to be careful on the road, as oil builds up and makes the asphalt extremely slippery.
Have a stack of quarters at the ready to pay for tolls. While not every road necessitates coinage, you have to be prepared. If you have exact change, it's better, as you can go through a lane and throw the coins out the window. Usually, you are going to need between 75 cents to $1.50. Coming from the airport, this is a guarantee, whichever road you take. Wondering which other roads have tolls? Here is the link.
Turning right on red is allowed, unless posted.
Thieves target drivers so ...
Keep your doors locked while driving.
While driving, if you are bumped from behind or flashed by headlights, or see someone who indicates he or she needs help, do not stop. Drive to the nearest, well-lighted public area and call 911.
Sometimes men will be approaching cars at the intersection while you are at a traffic light. They might have a hard luck story or outright asking for money. Do not roll down your window to talk with them.
While getting gas at the station, make sure to remove your keys. Car thieves in Florida have actually jumped in and driven off while you are standing right there with the hose!
If you are placing bags or packages in the trunk, do so before you drive off for your next destination. This is especially true at tourist spots where thieves are actually watching the parking lots.
Always take your parking ticket with you. Leaving it in the car allows a thief to exit the parking lot.
Lastly, it's best to be prepared by knowing where you are going first. Getting lost on the road can ruin a vacation with frustration and delays. It can even be dangerous as you stop concentrating on your driving to try to figure out where you are. Also, some parts of town are better to find yourself in than others.
Go to www.mapquest.com or http://maps.google.com to plot out where you're going and get the most out of your Florida vacation.
