Driving in large cities can be daunting, but driving in Miami is a unique experience.
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If you are a FL resident, you probably know what it means to drive in South Florida, particularly during rush hour.
Miami is a vibrant city with lots of tourist attractions, shopping locations, businesses, and more importantly, motorists.
These people are generally locals and tourists who cruise along the I-95 to reach different destinations.
So far, it seems Miami is no different than any other city including NYC or LA, but nothing has been said yet.
Florida Toyota Rental advises visitors to watch out for certain drivers who make driving in Miami a torture.
From watching for pedestrians to staying away from erratic drivers, you should be extra cautious when hitting the roads.
Here we grouped the best tips to survive driving in Miami.
Do not make assumptions
Like in any other city, traffic congestion jeopardizes your safety. The proximity between vehicles and the number of pedestrians and cyclists sharing the road makes the experience significantly challenging.
You should keep a safe distance between vehicles, communicate with pedestrians as much as possible, and avoid sharing lanes with cyclists.
It’s the minimum you could do to remain crash-free.
Avoid driving in rush hour
If you are expecting a long commute, then try getting up earlier to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Congestion builds up quickly and could be frustrating, particularly when you need to drive through I-95 between 7 AM and 10 AM.
In Miami, some locals start switching lanes constantly and a few may consider speeding, which is a typical behavior in any other city as well.
The right lane is the safest spot
When driving in Miami, you may see savvy sports cars cruising along the freeway. If they are passing other vehicles, they should remain in the far-left lane. But don’t make assumptions.
You could enhance your safety by staying on the right lane, especially if you are not familiar with directions in Miami.
You won’t need to be worried about annoying other drivers. The right lane is reserved for slow drivers so drive safely, enjoy the breeze, and take your time to plan your next maneuver.
Know the rules about crosswalks
When driving in Miami Downtown or any other crowded area, watch for crosswalks. These zones were designed for crossing pedestrians and cyclists.
As in any other city, pedestrians have the right to walk on crosswalks. And you are required to stop your vehicle before a crosswalk when the light turns red.
There have been cases in which motorists refuse to yield the right way of way to pedestrians. Stay away from such habit.
Watch out for cyclists
The higher temperatures encourage people to ride their bikes to avoid traffic jams.
If you are driving in Miami, be prepared to yield to pedestrians when required. The constant traffic congestion in Miami has encouraged a few to omit such practice putting everyone in danger.
Similarly, some cyclists in Miami fail to obey the traffic rules, which urges you to keep an eye on them, maintain a safe distance, and stay away from their reserved lanes.
Keep an eye on taxis and ride-sharing vehicles
Watch out for yellow cabs when driving in busy areas including the airport. Some of them are cautious drivers while others may cut you off for no reason.
The same also applies to ride-sharing vehicles that are becoming increasingly popular these days.
It has been reported that these vehicles tend to stop in random location to load and unload passengers. There’s no need to confront bad driving habits, just keep safe distance to avoid unexpected stops.
Stay away from distracted driving
Distracted driving is a major safety issue and Miami is not an exception. It won’t take you that long to find someone texting while driving. They could even get upset when calling them out for their negligence.
For that reason, you should put your phone down and focus on the road ahead. If you notice a distracted driver around you, increase your following distance and be able to predict their moves.
Remember it’s against the law to use your phone while driving in Miami. Yet not everyone follows the rules.
