Safety Tips For Tourists in Texas
Texas is a popular tourist destination, drawing over 50 million domestic and international visitors annually. In addition, more than 60 million residents travel throughout the state each year.
Whether you’re a Texas native or coming from other parts of the country or the world, it’s wise to take steps to ensure your safety when visiting a new place. Here are a few tips to plan for a fun and memorable trip when you visit Texas.
Know Where You’re Going
Staying safe starts with familiarizing yourself with any area you’re visiting. Before you set off on your vacation, take the time to plan an itinerary, including attractions you want to see. This gives you a chance to select routes and find options for dining, fueling your vehicle, parking, and so on along the way.
Even if you’re in a safe city, spend some time researching neighborhood crime rates. If an area has high property crime like vehicle theft, for example, you may want to find paid parking with attendants on duty rather than use unmonitored street parking.
When you know where you’re going and what to expect, you can avoid snafus. For instance, good planning can help you lessen your chances of being in a car accident, getting lost, or becoming the victim of potential crimes like pickpocketing, mugging, and vehicle theft.
Stay Alert in Tourist Areas
Most tourist destinations take steps to help visitors remain safe in their city, especially at spots travelers tend to frequent. Even so, it’s important that you do your part and remain vigilant. Tourists carrying cash and valuables are often targeted by thieves.
Knowing your way around and taking precautions like wearing a money belt and leaving valuables at home are great starts. However, if you want to avoid potentially harmful situations like mugging and assault, it’s also necessary to remain alert, watch for trouble, and trust your gut when something feels off.
Pay Attention To Weather Conditions
Hot, humid summers are a fact of life in much of Texas. Locals know how to stay safe when temperatures climb to the triple digits and high humidity makes conditions more dangerous. There are also seasonal storms that could bring high winds, hail, and a risk of flooding.
Most of the year, the weather in Texas is temperate and pleasant, but you should always check weather conditions before you visit. That way, you know how to pack appropriately and can avoid dangerous situations. Most importantly, when the weather is hot, make sure to stay hydrated.
Behave Responsibly
On average, a person is killed in a traffic accident every two hours and three minutes in Texas. Additionally, over one-quarter of fatalities occur in crashes where a driver is under the influence of alcohol. You can’t control what other people do, but when you’re a visitor in a strange place, you can still behave responsibly yourself.
If you want to drink, don’t get behind the wheel. Plan to use public transportation or a rideshare service rather than risk a DUI accident that could result in death. This is also a safe alternative to walking around on your own in unfamiliar neighborhoods, whether you’ve been drinking or not.
Know Where To Find Help When Visiting a New Place
Whether you stay at a hotel or a vacation rental property, speak with your concierge or rental owner to get the details on safe areas and activities. Just in case, you should also make sure you know the location of nearby hospitals and police stations. If an accident occurs, you need to know where to get help, file a report, and reach out to a local attorney.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers in Bedford for Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Fort Worth and Bedford, Texas.
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth
209 N Hampton St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 510-9400
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100,
Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 503-9200
