Holiday safety tips for Florida families

The best holiday safety tips for Florida families are simple: plan a sober ride home, give yourself extra time on crowded roads, secure anything you haul, keep decorations away from heat and water, and watch your footing in busy, rain-slicked parking lots. A few small habits keep the season about family, not emergencies.

The holidays in Florida look a little different. Our roads fill with visitors, theme park traffic peaks, and a cold front might mean 60 degrees. But the risks are familiar: more cars, more distractions and more late nights. Here's how to stay safe at home and on the road.

Holiday driving safety in Florida

Holiday travel puts more cars on I-4, I-95, I-75 and the Turnpike, many driven by people who don't know the roads. Add holiday parties, shopping trips and long drives to see family, and it's one of the busiest times of the year to be behind the wheel.

Plan a sober ride before the party starts

Decide how you're getting home before the first drink. Pick a designated driver, schedule a rideshare, or plan to stay the night. In Florida, it's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher, and you can be impaired well below that. If you're hosting, offer non-alcoholic drinks and help guests find a ride.

Impaired drivers aren't only on the road late at night, so stay alert on the way home from any gathering.

Check your route, the weather and your car

• Leave early. Build in extra time for traffic, especially around airports, malls and theme parks.
• Check the forecast. Florida's winter storms are rare, but fog and heavy rain can cut visibility quickly.
• Check your tires. Tire pressure can drop when temperatures dip. Your car's manual or the sticker in the driver's door shows the right pressure.
• Rest up. On long drives to family, stop every couple of hours. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as impaired driving.

Secure your cargo

A Christmas tree on the roof or a new TV in the truck bed can become a hazard on the highway. Tie loads down tightly, keep cargo from blocking your mirrors or rear window, and check the straps after a few miles. Florida law requires loads to be secured so they don't shift or fall from the vehicle.

Stay focused

Holiday driving comes with extra distractions: navigation, music, phone calls, kids in the back seat. Set your route before you pull out, keep your phone out of reach, and let a passenger handle the rest. And remember Florida's move-over law, which we explain in what the 2024 move-over law requires. It applies to disabled vehicles on the shoulder, not just emergency vehicles, and breakdowns are common on holiday travel days.

Decorations and fire safety at home

Holiday decorations bring warmth, and a few fire risks.

Florida's rain and humidity matter here too. Plug outdoor decorations into a GFCI outlet (the kind with a test button), and keep connections off wet ground.

If a decoration fire or water leak damages your home, take photos, prevent further damage and report it to your insurer promptly. Florida generally gives homeowners one year from the date of loss to report a new claim.

Protecting packages and your home

Online shopping means more packages sitting on Florida porches. To keep them safe:

1. Schedule deliveries for when someone's home, or have them sent to work or a locker.
2. Use delivery alerts so you can bring packages in quickly.
3. Ask a neighbor to grab boxes if you're traveling.
4. If you're away for the holidays, set lights on a timer and pause mail delivery.

If you're hosting, think about your guests too. Keep walkways and steps well lit, clear clutter and toys from paths, and wipe up spills quickly.

Shopping safely in busy parking lots and stores

Crowded stores and packed parking lots bring their own risks.

• Walk, don't rush. Watch for cars backing out, and keep kids close in the lot.
• Watch the floor. Florida's sudden afternoon showers leave entryways wet and slippery, and busy stores don't always keep up with spills.
• Carry less. Make extra trips to the car instead of stacking bags so high you can't see your feet.
• Park in well-lit areas if you'll be shopping after dark.

If you do fall because of a hazard a store should have fixed, report it to the manager, take photos and get medical care. Our guide on what to do after a slip and fall covers the steps that protect your health and your rights.

If someone is hurt this holiday season

Get medical care first, even for injuries that seem minor. After a car crash in Florida, PIP coverage generally requires treatment within 14 days. For most negligence claims, including car crashes and slip-and-falls, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit. When you're ready, we can talk through what happened and the injury cases we handle, in English or Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

When are Florida roads busiest during the holidays?

The days just before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and the days right after, tend to have the heaviest traffic. Theme parks, airports and malls add congestion in Central Florida. Leaving early in the morning or traveling on the holiday itself often means lighter roads.

Does homeowners insurance cover a Christmas tree fire?

Many Florida homeowners policies cover accidental fire damage, including fires that start from decorations, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Take photos, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and report the loss promptly. If the claim is denied or underpaid, a policy review can help.

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From all of us at Sunshine State Law Firm, we hope your holidays are full of good food, good company and safe travels. Slow down, plan your ride, and take care of each other. Shine on.