Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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Using your horn properly
Avoiding the need for using your horn
Final Word
 

Using your horn properly

Car horns are incredibly overused in populated areas. Anytime that someone gets upset about something that someone else who is driving near them did, they typically honk their horn several times or they “lean on their horn”. Leaning on your horn is when you honk and hold it for an extended period. Leaning on your horn is not legal nor is it ever helpful and is one of the quickest ways to end up in a road rage incident. Many of the ways that people use their car horns are not legal or helpful so let us define the purpose of a vehicle’s horn.

The point of your car’s horn is to alert and communicate with other drivers. It is not there in order for you to express your rage towards them. For example, if you are trying to let a driver know who is changing lanes that they do not see you in their blind spot, you should honk at them until they cease changing lanes. Another example would be if there is smoke coming from another driver’s car and they do not seem to notice it as they drive, you can honk to communicate with them that there is something wrong.
 

Avoiding the need for using your horn

Many times, you will not be able to do anything in order to avoid situations where you need to use your car’s horn. However, that will be possible sometimes. In general, you should avoid driving in areas and situations where bumper to bumper driving and aggressive driving is commonplace.

More specifically, you should do whatever you can in order to avoid driving in areas with high densities of traffic. These areas will have some drivers who abruptly change lanes or stop short as well as overly aggressive drivers. You should also avoid driving in the left-most lane of highways. The left lane of highways or any road is reserved for the drivers who are driving the fastest, otherwise known as passing. If you are in the left-most lane of a highway, there is a good chance that someone could end up tailgating you which can obviously lead to a situation with aggressive beeping and road rage.
 

Final Word

Your car horn serves a simple and clearly defined purpose when you are out driving. It is to alert other drivers of danger. It is not a way for you to express that you are angry with another driver. If you use your horn improperly you can be pulled over and ticketed for doing so. In order to avoid the need to use your vehicle’s horn, you should avoid driving in areas with heavy traffic and the left-most lane of the highway.

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Legal use of your hazard lights
Advice for using your hazards
Wrapping up
 

Legal use of your hazard lights

Your hazard lights are crucial to your safety because they allow you to signal to other drivers that there is a hazard associated with your vehicle and that they should use caution when driving near or around you. If you are in a situation where you are actively driving and are using your hazards, you should be driving slowly (under the speed limit), in the right-most lane and with extreme caution.

There are several situations where it is legal to be using your hazard lights. If your car is disabled or unable to drive on or near a roadway, this would call for legal use of your hazards. If you must pull over onto the shoulder of the road for an emergency, you should legally leave your hazards on. That would include when you are pulled over by the police or if you are changing a tire. In certain situations, you can legally use your hazards during an official funeral procession.
 

Advice for using your hazards

Always be smart when you are using your hazards. However, it is equally important to be informed about your hazard lights and the laws about the in your area. For example, some US states have laws regarding the speed you must be driving under in order to use your hazards. So, if you are driving over twenty-five miles per hour and using your hazards for any reason, you can be ticketed in those states.

In Puerto Rico hazard light use is never permitted while you are driving. However, this law is not strictly enforced. So, in Puerto Rico, you can use your hazards when you are stopped or pulled over. If you do so while you are driving, you are technically risking a ticket.
 

Wrapping up

Your hazard lights will give you the best chance of avoiding being struck by another vehicle when you are pulled off on the side of the road for an emergency reason. Be sure that they are always in working order because you never know when you might end up needing them. However, be sure that you do not use them improperly because you can end up getting pulled over and getting a ticket for doing so. In Puerto Rico, it is technically not legal to use your hazard lights when you are driving for any reason. It is legal only when you are stopped or pulled over.

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Exercising the proper caution at stop signs
The Risk you take by rolling through a stop sign
Conclusion
 

Exercising the proper caution at stop signs

Stopping at a stop sign seems as simple as it can get. However, it proves very difficult for some people. This unfortunately proves to be true frequently in Puerto Rico. Stopping properly and safely at stop signs is always important but when other people are not doing the same, it becomes even more critical that you do.

In order to properly stop at a stop sign, the process begins with always being alert and keeping your eyes on the road so that you do not miss one. This obviously includes avoiding any and all distracted driving such as using your cell phone while you are behind the wheel. When you are approaching a stop sign you should immediately take your foot off of the acceleration and prepare to slowly brake.

You should ensure that your vehicle comes to a stop at the white line next to the stop sign. This means the very front of your car should be right over the line. When you come to a stop, make sure that it is a complete stop. This means your wheels have stopped moving completely and the entire car is at rest. Once that occurs, you can check every direction to make sure that it is safe to proceed. Only then, should you start driving again.
 

The risk you take by rolling through a stop sign

There are over seven hundred thousand car accidents each year in the United States at intersections with stop signs. However, if you run a stop sign, you might not hit a car. You might hit a pedestrian or bike rider for which the consequences and cost will be much more severe. Regardless of whether you hit a car or pedestrian, you will be responsible to pay for damages and can end up facing criminal charges as well. Even if you run a stop sign and do not hit anyone, you could be pulled over and ticketed, all because you could not come to a stop for a quick moment. It is just not worth it in the end.
 

Conclusion

Whether you are in Puerto Rico or anywhere else, make sure that you always come to a full and complete stop at any and all stop signs. If you roll through a stop sign or flat out blow a stop sign, you are risking getting a ticket, or much worse getting into an accident with another driver or pedestrian. If that happens, you will need to pay for damages to any vehicles involved and could face criminal charges or lawsuits depending on if anyone else was injured during the collision.

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What can happen when you tailgate someone
Wrapping up
 

What can happen when you tailgate someone

Tailgating is when you follow someone to closely as the both of you are driving. As a rule of thumb, you should have at least one car length of space between you and the car in front of you for every ten miles an hour of speed with which you are driving. So, if you are driving forty miles an hour, you should have at least four car lengths of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

If you cannot estimate this, you should always have at least two seconds of space between you and the car that is in front of you. You can determine this by picking a non-moving marker up ahead of both you and the driver in front of you such as a traffic sign or pole. Once they reach it, it should take at least two seconds for you to reach it as well. Using either of these methods will ensure that you do not end up tailgating someone.

According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost one quarter of rear-end collisions are caused by tailgating. This leads to thousands of fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries. It obviously also leads to expensive damage to both cars. However, the car that was in the rear of the accident always ends up being held completely liable for the damage to both vehicles. If you get into an accident and you were the one tailgating, your insurance premiums will increase as well.

Even if you do not cause an accident, you can get pulled over for following someone too closely and you will get an expensive ticket in Puerto Rico. Finally, if you notice that someone is tailgating you, remain calm, try not to stop suddenly and carefully change lanes as soon as you can.
 

Wrapping up

There are numerous reasons why you should never tailgate someone. They include the risk of being pulled over and ticketed as well as the risk of causing an accident and injury, having to pay for the damage to both vehicles, having to pay any resulting medical bills and having your insurance premiums increase as a result. In order to avoid tailgating anyone in Puerto Rico, you should always keep at least two seconds of space between you and the car that is in front of you.

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Your side-view mirrors
Your rear-view mirror
Wrapping up
 

Your side-view mirrors

The mirrors on your car are extremely important to your safety. They allow you to take a quick look at who is driving behind you without having to turn your head and take your eyes off the road in front of you for more than a split second. It is important to be able to know about the cars behind you because it will affect your ability to change lanes or turn. You can also get out of the way of someone who is driving too aggressively with ease with this knowledge.

Your most important mirrors are your sideview mirrors. They allow you to see who is to either side of you whether they are slightly behind you or further back. You will need to utilize your sideview mirrors if you are attempting to change a lane. If you are changing lanes, be sure that you do not only utilize your sideview mirrors and that you manually check your blind spot as well. You will also need them if you are parallel parking.

One of the most important things to remember about your mirrors is that, before you start driving, you should always check them to see if they need to be adjusted. If they do need to be adjusted, then do so. For your sideview mirrors, unless your car is quite old, there should be power controls somewhere on the wheel or near the door handle.
 

Your rear-view mirror

Your rearview mirror is quite important as well. It will allow you to see who is driving behind you which will allow you to make more informed decisions about turning and changing lanes. Your rearview mirror will also help you when it comes to driving in reverse, parking and changing lanes as well.

In terms of adjusting your rearview mirror, you should do so each time that you enter your vehicle. The difference here in comparison to your sideview mirrors is that your rearview mirror will need to be adjusted manually, by hand, rather than by a power button.
 

Wrapping up

In Puerto Rico, driving safety is of the utmost importance due to the careless and aggressive way that many other drivers will be driving. A larger part of this safety than most people think is the way you use your sideview and rearview mirrors. Your ability to use these mirrors effectively and correctly is crucial to your safety when you are driving in Puerto Rico. Be sure that you always check your mirrors before you change lanes, turn, park, or drive in reverse. Also, be sure to adjust your mirrors to your specific needs each time that you get into your vehicle.

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Car theft in Puerto Rico
Your options to protect yourself
Conclusion
 

Car theft in Puerto Rico

Car theft in Puerto Rico has dropped pretty dramatically over the last ten years. In 2009 there were about 190 cases per hundred thousand residents. In 2019, there were only about 122 cases of car theft per hundred thousand residents in Puerto Rico. That is a thirty six percent drop. That drop takes Puerto Rico from being in the middle of the pack in comparison to all US states to being in the bottom ten in terms of car theft by comparison.

Regardless, that does not mean that the possibility of having your car stolen is not ever present in Puerto Rico. That risk is obviously higher in more densely populated areas like cities such as San Juan. It is up to you to be proactive and to take steps to protect your car from theft in Puerto Rico. Keep in mind, if your car is stolen, you will only have about a fifty percent chance of having it recovered. If it is recovered, it might have already been stripped for some parts or have some damage. The best option is to not have your vehicle stolen in the first place.
 

Your options to protect yourself

In terms of protecting your car from being stolen, you have a bunch of options. If you really want to keep your vehicle safe, you should try and make use of as many as possible. First, there are simple and more obvious things such as always keeping your doors locked, not leaving keys in or anywhere near your car, keeping the windows closed when you are not in the car, parking in areas that are lit well, and making sure that your car alarm is always in working condition.

However, there are also options that will cost you some money but will go above and beyond in terms of protecting your car. These fall under the umbrella of car anti-theft technology. This includes immobilization systems as well as tracking systems. Companies such as LoJack offer multiple options in regards to tracking systems. An immobilization system will not allow the car to be started with anything other than the right key or key fob. A tracking system will obviously track your car in the event that it has been stolen.
 

Conclusion

Getting your car stolen in Puerto Rico is not as much of a possibility as it used to be. However, the possibility certainly still exists. You need to be proactive in order to protect your vehicle from theft in Puerto Rico or anywhere else for that matter. You have several options such as staying smart and doing things like parking in well-lit areas, getting an immobilization system and/or getting a tracking system like LoJack.

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Airbag 101
Why airbags are important in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

Airbag 101

Airbags are one of the most important safety features in any vehicle. If they are not working, your car will not pass an inspection and that is for good reason. Airbags are the last line of defense for you and your passengers when you get into an accident. Experts estimate that properly functioning airbags reduce fatalities in serious crashes by about thirty percent.

Your airbags are comprised of three primary parts. These parts are the bag, the sensor and the system that inflates the bag. These parts obviously work together instantly upon a severe enough collision. When you get into a bad enough crash there is a chemical reaction that occurs near the sensor. The sensor senses this and sends a signal to the bag to inflate. This all occurs to completion within less than one tenth of a second.
 

Why airbags are important in Puerto Rico

Airbags are critically important to your safety whenever you are driving and wherever you are driving. However, they do hold even more importance in areas where driving is typically more dangerous. This does include urban areas of Puerto Rico such as San Juan.

Unfortunately, driving in places like San Juan can be more difficult and treacherous than many other areas. Many drivers barely abide by the rules of the road and when they do not, they frequently do not get pulled over by the police. You will see some drivers in Puerto Rico completely disobeying red lights and stop signs, turning across multiple lanes of traffic, or parking in the middle of the road. With perpetual traffic hazards like those, the potential for an accident is higher which means you will need your airbags more than ever. If your airbag indicator light ever comes on, get your car to a mechanic immediately.
 

Conclusion

You should never drive your vehicle without properly functioning airbags. They are just too important for you and your passenger’s safety. In areas like San Juan, your airbags are more likely to be getting used so their already high importance increases. Always make sure that your mechanic gives all of your airbags a good once over when you take your vehicle in for service.

When you need a car, motorcycle or any other type of vehicle sent to or from the port at San Juan, you can always call the vehicle transports at Puerto Rico Car Transport at (904) 322-7644 for a free quote!

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Using your brakes safely
Advice to keep your brakes working well
Wrapping up
 

Using your brakes safely

Using your brakes safely seems like an odd concept because brakes are obviously there for your overall safety. However, there are much safer ways that you can go about using your brakes instead of instantly slamming on them all of the time. You should consider that using your brakes in the safest manner possible will always start with paying close attention while you are driving, keeping a safe distance from the cars in front of you and always driving in a defensive manner.

Easing into braking is the obvious and safest way to brake. It will prevent your car’s momentum coming to a sudden stop from jolting you, your passengers and any items in the car forward. When that happens with seatbelts on, it can still cause considerable injury to you or your passengers and damage the interior of your vehicle. If you and/or one of your passengers are not wearing their seatbelts, much more serious injuries, damage or even fatalities can occur.
 

Advice to keep your brakes working well

Slamming on your brakes and stop-and-go driving can really cause your brakes to wear quickly. In some cases, treating your brakes like this can even cause them instant damage. Yes, sometimes you cannot avoid these things but in many cases you can.

In order to keep you brakes working well and to extend their life as much as possible you should start coming to a stop before you even hit the brake. This means if you see an upcoming red light or stop sign, for example, you should take your foot off the acceleration several seconds before hitting the brake. You can also keep your brakes going by driving in a lower gear (if your car has a manual transmission) and taking your foot off the brake or only gently tapping it occasionally when you are descending a hill. Doing this will take a bunch of stress of the brake. Finally, you should do whatever you can to avoid situations where stop-and-go driving will be persistent. You can do this by checking the traffic before you head out or by using a driving app like Waze.
 

Wrapping up

Your vehicle’s brakes take a lot of punishment when you are driving on them regularly. They are designed to do so. But you can do a few things to minimize the wear, tear and overall damage to them. This includes planning trips to avoid high volumes of traffic, driving down a hill in the right gear and using your brakes gently. Always drive defensively and give yourself enough space from the vehicle in front of you in order to be able to use your brakes in the safest fashion.

Remember, if you need any type of vehicle moved to or from Puerto Rico, whether it’s a motorcycle, truck, RV or anything else, you can always call us for an instant and free quote at (904) 322-7644!

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Puerto Rico’s potential for rain
Why high-quality wipers are so important
Conclusion
 

Puerto Rico’s potential for rain

On average, Puerto Rico gets about five inches of rain a month every year. However, that varies in several ways. First, some months have more average rainfall than others do. Also, some areas have much more rainfall than others. The rainy season in Puerto Rico falls from April until November. Rain will fall outside of these months but is very infrequent unless you are in a place like El Yunque rainforest.

In terms of the areas where the most rainfall occurs, you have El Yunque, Magueyes Island and Pico del Este that all see much higher averages of rain than the rest of Puerto Rico. In areas like San Juan, you will see the typical five to seven inches or so per month. Either way, you need to be ready and equipped with reliable windshield wipers at all times in Puerto Rico. This is because driving with any less visibility in Puerto Rico where driving is already tougher than normal is just not an option.
 

Why high-quality wipers are so important

In terms of your windshield wipers, you should not settle for run-of-the-mill blades. Getting premium high-quality wiper blades for your car has numerous advantages. One such advantage is that the blades will last much longer and will do an overall better job at keeping your windshield rain and streak free. Another advantage is that they are built for the heaviest rain whereas cheaper blades might labor a bit in bad storms after being used for some time.

However, many people agree that the original wiper blades that your car has from its manufacturer will be the absolute best bet for your car. They are made to fit your specific type of car and your specific type only. The thing is that those wiper blades will likely only have a life of about six months. After that, if you can get them replaced with another pair of the exact same blades, do so but it will likely be the most expensive option because getting parts straight from the dealer can be pricey. That is why you should consider a high-quality replacement instead.
 

Conclusion

Wherever you driver, your windshield wipers are something that you will need to be able to rely on so be sure that yours are in good working order. If they are not, get them replaced and do not go for the cheapest option when you do. The original manufacturer blades will be the best option for your car but those only have a shelf life of about six months and getting another pair of those from the dealer will be the costliest option. Instead, you should consider getting a high-end replacement from an auto store.

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Weather and road conditions in Puerto Rico
Keeping your vehicle clean
Final word
 

Weather and road conditions in Puerto Rico

The weather in Puerto Rico can get really wet, really quickly. On top of that, the roads have sand dirt and gravel in no short supply. Between these two factors, it is easy for your car to get dirty quickly while you are driving in Puerto Rico.

When it comes to the weather, two things will contribute to your car getting dirty, rain and salt air. Rain will do most of the heavy lifting in terms of making your vehicle dirty. Rainwater contains things like pollen dust and various other types of dirt that were light enough to evaporate into the air with moisture. Salt air is when salt from the ocean gets picked up by the air and blows onto your vehicle with the wind.

The dirt and sand that is on the road can kick up and stick to your vehicle as you drive. As we said, that is in no short supply, especially on city roads where the volume of traffic is much higher. So, you will need to make an on-going effort in order to keep your car clean when you are frequently driving it in Puerto Rico.
 

Keeping your vehicle clean

Keeping your ride clean in Puerto Rico, especially when you are driving around in places like San Juan will be a continuous process, but it does not need to be difficult. Obviously, you will need to take your vehicle to a car wash on a semi-regular basis. We suggest at least once a month if not twice.

You should also get your car waxed at least a few times a year. You can easily do this when you are getting your car washed for an additional charge. On top of the washes and waxes, you should get your car detailed once or twice each year. Getting your car detailed is an extremely thorough cleaning of every inch of your vehicle’s exterior that will cost twice or more than a typical wash. Doing this will ensure any spots that got missed throughout the year will be taken care of. Finally, you should do everything in your power to try and keep your car covered when it is not being driven. This could be a garage, car cover or even a good spot in reliable shade
 

Final word

Keeping your vehicle clean and looking nice in Puerto Rico can be a difficult task sometimes. But, with some extra effort and a few simple steps, you will be able to do it. Just be sure that you stay vigilant about getting your car washed, waxed and detailed on a regular basis.

If you need your car shipped to or from Puerto Rico, give us a call whenever you need to at (904) 322-7644. Just be sure that your car is clean before your driver arrives to pick it up as they will need to conduct a thorough visual inspection of the car for pre-existing damage when they arrive.