Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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Giving a bike rider space
Other safety precautions near a bicyclist
Wrapping up
 

Giving a bike rider space

Bike riders have the same right to the road as motor vehicles do. This means that you must yield to them when it is necessary, and you must respect their safety the same way you would another driver. On top of that you have to realize that bicyclists are at a much higher risk of severe injury if they are in an accident or collision with a vehicle. If you hit a bike rider, you will be criminally liable as well as responsible for their medical expenses and you will likely also be sued and lose. It will be extremely costly for you overall.

Thus, making sure any bike riders near you on the road are not in danger due to your driving must be a top priority. The most crucial part of doing so will be to give them the proper space. Anytime you are driving near a bike rider, you must give them at least three feet of space if they are alongside of you. If they are in front of you, you must give them at least three car lengths (depending on your exact speed) of space to ensure complete safety.
 

Other safety precautions near a bicyclist

In addition to giving a cyclist the right amount of space to ensure their safety, there are several other precautions that you must take as well. The first is to reduce your speed a bit in order to allow you more reaction time in case you need to avoid a collision with them. You also must make sure that you only pass them safely while maintaining the three plus feet of space rule. Never drive in or too close to a bike lane. Finally, whenever you are parked and you open your door, always check your mirror and blind spot for an approaching bike rider first.
 

Wrapping up

The same way that you share the road with other drivers, you will legally and literally also share the road with bike riders. It is extremely important for the safety of the cyclists out there as well as for you in terms of avoiding legal and civil trouble, that you make bike rider’s safety extremely important when you are out driving in Puerto Rico. In order to ensure a bike rider’s safety who is riding in close proximity to you give them at least three feet of space when they are next to you, several car lengths if they are in front of you, never drive in a bike lane and always check for approaching cyclists before opening any of your car’s doors.

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What you need in case you get pulled over
What you need in case you get into an accident
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What you need in case you get pulled over

In general, there are three main documents you will need to keep in your car in case you are pulled over by the police. These documents are your license, registration, and proof of insurance. You should always keep your license on your person as it is your primary form of identification in the United States, and you might need to show it to someone in a situation when you are not driving such as to buy an age restricted product like alcohol for example.

However, you should always keep your registration and proof of insurance in your glove box for quick access in case you are pulled over. It is important to be able to access these documents quickly when you are pulled over because quickly presenting them to the officer can help expedite the time they need to spend at the traffic stop which can lead to them possibly giving you a break on any tickets.
 

What you need in case you get into an accident

On top of your insurance and registration documents, you should really consider keeping a few other things in your glove box. These things will help you in case you are in an accident and/or have car trouble. The first of these things is your car’s owner’s manual. This will provide you valuable information that you will need in case your car is not working as intended.

You should also keep a notepad, pen and camera in your glovebox. These things will be very important in case you are in an accident with another car as they will allow you to document the conditions of the vehicles right after the accident as well as any names, numbers and other important information you might need later. You also may want to consider keeping a phone charger and/or external phone battery to use in case your phone is low on charge when you are in an accident.
 

Wrapping up

Many people use their glove boxes to keep miscellaneous things such as napkins, gloves, CDs glasses etc. That is fine and you should have room for those things but there are much more important items that you should keep handy in your glove box of which you should ensure are always there. This includes your car’s owner’s manual, your registration, your proof of insurance and a camera. These things will allow you to avoid unnecessary tickets if you are pulled over as well as protect you from additional liability in case you are in a car accident.

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The dangers of road rage
How to avoid road rage
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The dangers of road rage

Road rage is an extremely dangerous and unfortunate occurrence, but it is something that happens from time to time. These incidents can lead to property damage (primarily to your vehicle), injury or even death. There will almost always be an opportunity to avoid these situations one way or another, so we recommend that you do what is ever in your power to always do so.

In the last decade, road rage incidents have increased by over five hundred percent and there is no sign of that growth slowing down anytime soon. On average, over a third of road rage incidents involve a firearm. Over thirty people die each year in road rage altercations. Finally, in 2019, four out of five people surveyed admitted they had been involved in a road rage incident in the past year. With all of these horrifying statistics, it is easy to see how crucial it is for your safety and the safety of your passengers that you be able to avoid these incidents.
 

How to avoid road rage

Thankfully there are some extremely effective ways to avoid both experiencing road rage as well as to avoid others who are experiencing road rage. This will start by completely avoiding driving aggressively in any way. This will include not driving over the speed limit, not driving too closely behind anyone else, avoiding changing lanes too quickly and/or without warning/signaling and not using your horn excessively.

You should also make being polite to other drivers a permanent habit. This means doing things like waving people on at an intersection or letting someone in who is attempting to merge into your lane. Another great way to side-step road rage is to train yourself to calm down quickly when someone has done something improper in traffic to you like cut you off or stop short in front of you. One effective technique for this is to take a series of deep breaths and/or pull over until you are calm again. Finally, if you notice someone else driving aggressively near you, do your best to keep your distance from them and always let them pass you with ease, making a point is never worth it when it comes to potential road rage.
 

Wrapping up

Road rage is always completely unnecessary and entirely avoidable. The costs of road rage can be extreme and even grave in nature. In order to avoid any possible road rage incidents, you should drive carefully, without excessive speed, without driving too closely, give proper signal before changing lanes and always be polite to other drivers. If you feel road rage coming on, take some deep breaths or pull over. Finally, if you see someone driving aggressively, stay away from them.

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How you can ship a motorcycle to Puerto Rico
Tips for shipping a motorcycle
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How you can ship a motorcycle to Puerto Rico

Shipping a motorcycle to Puerto Rico is quite easy. It is pretty similar to shipping a car to Puerto Rico with a few minor differences. You will still need to determine when you need your shipment picked up and delivered and book your shipment several weeks ahead of the pickup date. You will also still need to prepare for your shipment, although this will be a bit easier than preparing a full-size car for shipping. Finally, you will also need to be sure that you will be available to pick up your motorcycle at the port in San Juan.

In terms of how far ahead to schedule your motorcycle shipment, you should do so a month in advance of your desired pick up date. There are fewer carriers available with the ability to ship motorcycles properly and securely, so the more notice you give, the better chance you have of getting your preferred shipping dates. As far as preparation, you will really just need to clean your bike as well as remove any personal items and/or detachable parts because these things will not be covered by the carrier insurance.
 

Tips for shipping a motorcycle

You can take a few extra steps in order to make sure that your Puerto Rican motorcycle shipment goes as smoothly as possible. One such step will be to be completely sure that your bike is in running condition. This will include checking your bike’s fluid levels, the tires and their pressure as well as your battery.

You should also check with your shipping company and ensure that your motorcycle is being shipped in an enclosed carrier when it is being transported on the ground. Enclosed transport offers extra protection for your motorcycle during transport. This might cost a bit extra, but it will be worth it. Finally, you also should be ready to show proper documentation at the San Juan port when you pickup your motorcycle. This will include your license, social security card, excise tax document and your proof of payment of the excise tax.
 

Wrapping up

Shipping a motorcycle to Puerto Rico is just as simple as shipping a vehicle there. There are a few small differences such as the preparation for shipping. Be sure that your motorcycle is in good running condition, and you should also consider shipping in an enclosed carrier. If you need a motorcycle shipped to Puerto Rico, give us a call with any questions or for a free quote anytime at (904) 322-7644.

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The different meanings of flashing your brights
Why it is technically not legal
Wrapping up
 

The different meanings of flashing your brights

If you see someone flash their brights when they pass you on the other side of the road, it could mean one of a few things or it could be that they are flashing their brights at a vehicle that is near you instead. For our purposes, lets assume they are flashing their brights at you.

The most frequent reason that someone flashes their brights at another driver is that the other driver is driving at night with their headlights off. So, the first thing you should check is that your headlights are on. Another reason they might be flashing their brights is that one of your headlights might be out. Pull over and check to see if both your headlights are working as well if someone has flashed their brights at you. A less frequent but definite possible reason for someone flashing their brights in your direction could be that you are driving with your brights on in a situation that does not call for it. Thus, you should also check that your regular headlights are on rather than your own brights.

Sometimes, someone flashing their brights at you might mean that there is a police car up ahead hidden or semi-hidden, trying to catch speeders. So, you should also make sure that you are not exceeding the speed limit as soon as you get brights flashed at you. Finally, if you come to an intersection or road where only one car can pass through and the driver across from you flashes their brights, it means they are giving you the right of way to go first.
 

Why it is technically not legal

There generally are no specific laws that specifically say flashing your brights at another driver is illegal. However, a police officer’s interpretation of the act could make the practice illegal in certain situations. One such situation is if you are caught flashing your brights in order to warn someone of police up ahead of them. This could be considered interfering with the police in some way. You can get a hefty fine in this instance. You might also get pulled over for flashing your brights if an officer deems it as a distraction or an act of aggression. This is extremely rare, but it is possible.
 

Wrapping up

When one driver flashes their brights at another driver, it is almost always some sort of courtesy. They might be letting you know that your headlights are not on at night, that one of your headlights is out, that you are driving with your brights on or that there are police up ahead trying to catch people speeding. So, when someone flashes their brights at you, you should quickly make sure your headlights are on, that your brights are not on, that you do not have a headlight out and that you are not speeding. If you are at an intersection or a narrow two-way road and someone flashes their brights at you, they are giving you the right of way to go first.

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The dangers of distracted driving
The penalties for cell phone use while driving
Wrapping Up
 

The dangers of distracted driving

Distracted driving can result in terrible accidents as well as horrific tragedies. In fact, distracted driving is responsible for over three thousand deaths in 2019 in the US and Puerto Rico alone. In a 2019 survey of Puerto Rican drivers, seventy percent of those participating said distracted driving (by other drivers) was one of their two biggest safety concerns while driving. Distracted driving accounts for about ten to fifteen percent of all fatal car accidents annually according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association.

The typical driver has a reaction time of between half a second and one full second. That is considered to be the maximum for having a chance at avoiding an accident. When you take your eyes off the road to compose a text, for example, the whole time you are texting becomes time that you can’t react. So, if your text took ten seconds to compose, the time it took for you to react to something in the road just got ten times longer. That is a recipe for an absolute disaster.
 

The penalties for cell phone use while driving

In Puerto Rico, there are penalties for using your cell phone while you are driving. If you get caught using your phone while you are driving in Puerto Rico, you will be fined fifty dollars. That obviously does not seem too bad. However, you should take into account the true risk you are taking when you use your cell phone wile driving in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has some of the worst driving conditions in the world. Many roads are in disrepair and few drivers obey basic traffic laws such as signaling, no parking in the middle of an active road or even stopping at a stop sign or red light. When you consider that, you will realize it is exponentially easier to get into an accident while driving in Puerto Rico. If you add taking your eyes off the road to text, you will inevitably get into an accident at some point which can cost you thousands of dollars and land you in prison depending on the circumstance.
 

Wrapping Up

Distracted driving is extremely risky behavior. Forget the fact that you can be ticketed. You are risking getting into a serious accident that could result in your or someone else’s death. Do yourself and others a favor, never drive distracted, especially by using your cell phone. Whether you need a motorcycle shipped from Puerto Rico or a truck shipped to Puerto Rico, we can ship any type of vehicle with ease to or from San Juan. Give us a call today for a quote at (904) 322-7644!

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Puerto Rico’s climate and the potential for foggy car windows
What you can do to prevent foggy windows in Puerto Rico
What you can do to fix foggy car windows in Puerto Rico
Final word
 

Puerto Rico’s climate and the potential for foggy car windows

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate year-round so it is always more humid there than normal. Humidity is the primary cause of a car’s windows fogging up. So, you will need to know how to prevent foggy car windows, or at least how you can effectively de-fog them each time that you get into your car.

In the case of a warm and muggy type climate as you have in Puerto Rico, the warm air carries moisture. This settles on your windshield. When you get into your car and turn the air conditioning on, the moisture in the air that settled on your windshield reaches the dew point, thus causing the window to fog up. When this happens, you will need to wait until you can effectively de-fog the window to start driving again because you will not be able to see out of the windshield.
 

What you can do to prevent foggy windows in Puerto Rico

The best way that you can de-fog your car’s windows is by not having the foggy windows in the first place. Here are a few ways that you can prevent your car windows from fogging up in Puerto Rico.

• Get and use an anti-fog spray – There are several products out there that you will be able to spray on your windows that will help prevent them from fogging up. You can see some here.
• Dry off first – We mentioned that the issue is actually caused by moisture that clings to the window, so if you are wet from going for a swim or from the rain, dry yourself off before you enter the vehicle.
• Be sure to keep your windows clean – Dirt particles such as dust will make it easier for the moisture in the air to stick to your windows, so if you keep them clean then you will be making it a bit more difficult for them to fog-up.

What you can do to fix foggy car windows in Puerto Rico

Odds are that you will not be able to ever completely prevent your car windows from fogging up in the first place. So, at some point you will need to de-fog them. These are the best ways to de-fog your car windows in Puerto Rico:

• Lower the windows – The weather will almost always be pretty nice in Puerto Rico, so if you lower your windows for a bit, you will be able to defog your windows that way. Obviously, you should not use this method if it is raining out. The purpose is to keep moisture out of the car.
• Buy a demister – You can buy a product called a demister pad that you can use to wipe your window clean of any fog.
• Turn on your wiper blades – If you turn on the wiper blades on your windshield you can effectively and manually remove the fog/moisture from the outside of the window which is where it will be during warm weather.

Final word

Foggy car windows are not the end of the world, but they are quite inconvenient. You will need to waste at least a few minutes of your time removing the fog from the windows right as you get into your car. Do not try to drive until the fog has completely cleared, doing so can be very dangerous and lead to an accident.

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Insects in Puerto Rico
How bugs can harm your car
The best ways to prevent bugs from getting in your car
Conclusion
 

Insects in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a hot and wet climate year-round. So, this means you will need to deal with bugs throughout the year when you are in Puerto Rico. There are a variety of insects to be aware of in Puerto Rico. This includes: cockroaches, ants, bed bugs, centipedes, spiders, and scorpions.

Most of these bugs are harmless beyond the possibility of a possible moderately painful bite. Although, there are a few poisonous ones such as the brown recluse spider. So, its best to keep your eyes peeled while you are in Puerto Rico.

Beyond the possible damage bugs can inflict on your car, they can also potentially cause a car accident. If you are driving and you get surprised by one of them appearing in your car, you could lose focus and control over the car which could cause an accident.
 

How bugs can harm your car

We just mentioned that bugs in your car could potentially cause you to get into an accident by distracting you while you are driving. However, there are more direct ways in which bugs could cause damage to your vehicle. So, you will want to do whatever you can to keep them out of your car.

Bugs can eat and damage or even ruin the interior of your car. They can clog the working mechanical parts of your car such as your radiator which can specifically lead to your car overheating. They can also cause damage to your cars paint job if you do not get your car washed at least fairly frequently.
 

The best ways to prevent bugs from getting in your car

Thankfully, there are a few effective ways that you can keep bugs out of your car when you are in Puerto Rico.

• Clean the car with something lemon scented – The majority of bugs do not like a lemon scent and cannot stand being near it. Wipe your cars surfaces down with some lemon scented wipes and that will go a long way to discouraging bugs from calling your vehicle home.
• Get the car washed frequently – This might seem obvious, but a lot of people only get their car washed a couple of times a year when they deem it to be visibly too dirty. You should get your car washed at least once a month and this includes the interior each time.
• Be sure you keep any openings very clean – Any small openings in your car where you could see a bug making its way in should be kept as clean as can be. This is the primary reason that a person might end up with bugs in their car, because there is food and dirt which bugs can easily detect. Be sure you vacuum these areas thoroughly and frequently.
• Do not park where bugs might be! – Do everything in your power to park where there won’t be bugs. A garage is best. However, just be sure that you do not park near trees and large grassy areas. These are prime areas for a large number of insects.

Conclusion

It is not a common problem in Puerto Rico as it is not in most places in the world, but bugs getting into your car is a possibility that you will want to avoid at all costs. If you invest some time and effort into keeping your vehicle clean and insect-proofed, you won’t have to worry about any creepy crawlers in your car.

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Hub cap 101
Additional info about hub caps
Wrapping up
 

Hub cap 101

Hubcaps are a cover for your wheelbase which are usually made of plastic or sometimes made of metal. Your vehicle’s hub caps serve two primary purposes. The first is functional in that they prevent weather elements as well as small debris from the road such as dirt or pebbles from damaging the actual wheels of your car. They also serve an aesthetic purpose as they make your car’s wheels look much nicer.

Your car will come with standard hubcaps when you buy it, but you can choose to get other hubcaps if you please. Newer and/or nicer hubcaps will not serve any additional function. They will just look better than the original hubcaps. If you choose to get new hubcaps the cost could be between thirty and eighty dollars each depending on the type of hubcap and their actual size. If you have a mechanic install the new hubcaps the labor could end up costing you around fifty or seventy-five dollars.
 

Additional info about hub caps

You might wonder if it is illegal to drive without any hubcaps. It is not because your car can still function fine without them. More importantly, your car can still function safely without them. Thus, there is no reason for a law that requires that you use them.

Although hubcaps do offer your wheelbase extra protection from road debris as well as the elements, you might want to consider getting wheel covers instead. Wheel covers will cover a greater area of the inner part of your wheel than just the wheelbase. Most modern cars will come with a wheel cover rather than just a hubcap.
 

Wrapping up

Your car’s hubcaps and/or wheel covers serve two very basic purposes, to protect the inside of your wheel, including your wheelbase from weather and debris as well as adding more of an aesthetically pleasing look to your wheels. Having either is not required by law. Wheel covers tend to be a better choice due to the additional area they cover. Whether you have hubcaps, wheel covers or neither, Puerto Rico Car Transport can ship any vehicle, large or small, to or from Puerto Rico with ease. Call (904) 322-7644 today for an instant and free quote!

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What your muffler does
Advice for keeping your muffler working well
Wrapping up
 

What your muffler does

Mufflers are a noticeable part of every car but not everyone who drives is exactly sure of what they do. Put simply, your muffler lowers the sound your car’s engine makes as well as lowers the overall emissions your car gives off a bit. When your car’s exhaust valve opens to release harmful gases from the car, a loud sound, “pop” or series of such will occur.

Think of it like cracking your knuckles. When you crack your knuckles, they make a “pop” sound because of gas rushing out from in between your joints so quickly. This is the same for your exhaust system in your vehicle when it releases gas. Your muffler greatly reduces the noise pollution this would cause. That is why mufflers are required for any vehicle on the road, to avoid roadways and towns where it sounds like gunshots are constantly being fired due to noise pollution from cars.
 

Advice for keeping your muffler working well

If your muffler is not working correctly or if you do not have one on your vehicle for some reason, your vehicle will not pass an inspection and you will have some very angry neighbors. You will obviously want to avoid both of those outcomes, so what can you do to keep your muffler in good working condition?

In short, you can really just make sure you bring your vehicle in for regular service and that your auto technician always performs a check on your muffler. However, you can check your muffler’s condition in a few easy ways. If you smell anything out of the ordinary, then it might be time to get your muffler checked. You should also bring your car into the mechanic if you notice excessive rust or holes on your muffler.
 

Wrapping up

Your muffler helps with some emissions from your exhaust system, but it primarily dissipates sounds from your exhaust system. Your car’s muffler must be working correctly in order for your car to pass a vehicle inspection. Be sure that you bring your car in for regular service and if you notice any odd odors coming from the muffler as well as any rust and/or holes on the muffler you should bring the car in for a check. If you need any type of vehicle shipped to Puerto Rico, you can give us a call anytime for a free quote or call us with any questions at (904) 322-7644.