When some tourists visit New York City, they do not bother going uptown to the Bronx. Many seem to feel that it is too far out of their way, and they would prefer to stay in Manhattan or possibly to venture into some parts of Brooklyn. However, many of those who visit the Bronx find that they love it.
The Bronx has the second-lowest population of New York’s boroughs, but it has more than its share of excellent restaurants and bars. You can also visit Yankee Stadium, the Cathedral of Yankee Baseball.
If you visit the Bronx as a tourist, though, you should know about the activities that cause the most car accidents there. By avoiding such behaviors, you should enjoy your trip and leave with nothing but happy memories.
Using Your Smartphone in the Car
There is no denying that some people seem to have a real problem with cell phone addiction. Nearly everyone carries a smartphone with them, with some parents buying one for their kids when they are still quite young. Many individuals have a smartphone with them in the car, and they might feel some temptation to look at it or even to interact with it while they are driving.
That is certainly the case in the Bronx. If you look at what causes many car crashes there, do not let it surprise you if the responsible driver admits they looked at their cell phone or interacted with it, and that caused the crash.
If you’re driving in the Bronx, whether you’re a native or a visitor, you need to put your cell phone away so that it can’t distract you. That usually means putting it in your pocket, in the center consol of your vehicle, or in the glove compartment.
If you need to turn it off entirely, then do that. No matter what, don’t try to send a text or check an email while driving, or you can become another statistic.
Using the Vehicle’s Navigation System
Many modern cars come with navigation systems. If you’re driving in the Bronx, and you’ve never visited the destination you’re heading to, then you might use this system.
You can type in the address and then drive according to what the map on the screen tells you to do. However, if you let that screen distract you too much, that can easily cause a crash.
If you’re going to use your car’s navigation system, then that’s fine, but you need to master glancing at it with your peripheral vision rather than letting it completely dominate your attention. Most of that attention has to remain on the road ahead, or you might get in an accident.
If you have someone in the car’s front seat next to you, then you can ask them to navigate instead. They can focus on the screen with the map on it and tell you the next turn you need to make or advise you on when you should switch lanes. This should prevent most accidents.
Food and Drinks
We mentioned that the Bronx has many excellent places to eat, but you should probably enjoy those sit-down meals in the restaurant rather than taking the food in the car with you. Grabbing something like a taco or a slice of pizza might appeal, but if you try to eat it while driving, that can distract you to the point where you cause an accident.
If you get some food from one of the many eateries in the Bronx, you should either eat it before you get in the car, or else you should resist the urge to eat it while driving. The same goes for drinks.
If you let food or drinks in the car distract you while you’re driving, you might take your eyes off the road long enough to run into the car in front of you if it stops suddenly. Even if your dinner smells delicious, wait till you get home before you dig in.
Speeding
If you speed, that’s dangerous anywhere, whether you’re on the highway or a local road. In the Bronx, you’ll see a lot of streets with signs indicating that children play there. These signs tell you to slow down, and you should always obey them.
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, speeding in a residential neighborhood in the Bronx can turn deadly in a hurry. If you’re exceeding the speed limit, and a child darts out into the street to pursue a ball or frisbee, then you might hit them if you can’t stop in time.
By slowing down, you make an accident a lot less likely. You can usually stop in time if the traffic conditions around you change suddenly.
Drunk Driving
If you drive drunk in the Bronx, or any of the other four boroughs, for that matter, that’s always a mistake. If you decide to stop for a couple of beers at your favorite watering hole, and you live close by, you might feel like you can get home with no issues. Even if you’re only making a five-minute drive, though, it’s best that you leave your car where you parked it and come back for it later.
If you’re a tourist, you should also avoid driving in the Bronx after drinking. If you suspect that you’re over the legal limit, hail a taxi or call for an Uber. You can also probably take the subway, since you’re seldom far away from a station.
You can always come back and retrieve your car once you’ve sobered up. You can also have someone else drive you if you designated a friend to stay sober for the evening.
If you can avoid these problematic behaviors, then you can usually prevent most car accidents in the Bronx. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, if you follow all the laws and rules of the road, then you can keep this beautiful neighborhood safe.