Road Trip Safety
Video Transcript:
Cindy Speaker: Planning for a road trip is usually a lot of fun. But unfortunately, many of us overlooked some very important preparations in that planning process. My guess today is South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney, George Sink of George Sink Injury Lawyers. And he’s going to talk with us about some of the often overlooked considerations. So George, welcome.
George Sink: Thank you for having me, Cindy.
Cindy Speaker: Well, George, we’re in the last month this summer and many families are planning that last vacation before the kids go back to school. So talk with us about some of the things that you recommend they consider when planning their trip to ensure it will be happy and a safe one.
George Sink: Well, it helps to know the route, the area, any dangerous problems that maybe out there. Even the weather, for example, and we have apps on cellphones now that can look at routes and spot traffic congestions. So things like that are very helpful. A matter of fact, I have that kind of app on the iPhone. You can check out those sort of weather or those traffic problems ahead of time. So it pays to look ahead and know where you’re going and anticipate the problems ahead of time.
Cindy Speaker: Well, George, what kind of vehicle maintenance would be most important to check before a long trip?
George Sink: Well, oil change, make sure your oil has been changed regularly, and tires are might bugaboo. When I was a student, I have a blow out at least a tire a week because we got the cheap ones. You can’t really tell—I can’t tell you how difficult it is to be stranded out some place and the tire blows out. So, make sure some qualified person looks at the tires, look for the pressure. It’s usually different in the front and the back tires, if there’s crack, or other things. So, take a look at those tires. That’s a big deal.
Cindy Speaker: All important. But for me, my cellphone is my most important safety equipment. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to get out of the car and try to change the tire. I’m going to pull out my cellphone and call out triple A. But what if you’re traveling to a state where cellphone use while driving is prohibited and you’re stopped while talking to your cellphone? Are you likely to be ticketed based on the cellphone laws of that state or are you only required to follow the cellphone laws of your home state, which could be different?
George Sink: It’s the same as if you committed a murder in that state. You’d be liable under the laws of that state. So, luckily, cellphone use is not prohibited in any state as such. But they do in nine states prohibit you from putting a cellphone to your ear in driving. You can’t do that in nine states. And about 30 others, they prohibit destructed driving. But what will get you home and what gets you around that is a little device that everybody has. You can put—you’ll put it in your ear,a nd by doing this, you can talk to people hands free.
For example, I was in California recently and they have that law. All you have to do is put it on a hands free device and you can use a cellphone in that state. But you have to know that and you should know you’re destructed laws too, because in some states, they are prohibiting texting while you’re driving, which is really not a good idea under any circumstances.
Cindy Speaker: Before we sign off here. If someone wants to reach you with specific questions, how can they do that?
George Sink: Call me hands free at 1-800-849-SINK, that’s toll free or you can get us on the internet at www.sinklaw.com
Cindy Speaker: Very good. Thank you, George.
George Sink: Thank you, Cindy.
Cindy Speaker: This is Cindy Speaker for State Law TV.
