Last week a friend of mine on holiday here in Orlando had the misfortune to be a prime example of how easy it is to get into problems and that everyone needs to think about how they can avoid putting themselves in difficult situations.
Here's the story.
David and his family had enjoyed an afternoon round the the pool and had drunk ( literally ) a couple of beers during the afternoon. It was 2nd day of their vacation and due to a little bit of jet lag the kids ( 4 and 6) flaked out about 6 in the evening. Mom and dad had a couple more beers in the room and decided a Pizza was the way forward as they didn't like the hotel restaurant David decided a quick drive to Pizzahut was the best choice as it was just a couple of minutes drive from the hotel. On his way to the restaurant David got rearended, no injuries but sufficient damage to mean the cars couldn't be moved quickly, police came, other driver was obviously drunk or stoned and he got busted. The police also wanted to test David (I'm still trying to find out if the copper was truthful on this part) telling him that it is standard when a crash involves a drunk driver that all involved have to get a test. Anyway, David goes to police station, fails test (borderline), gets told he's going to be spending the night in chokey and that he can make a phone call and here comes the part where lack of preperation hurts him. Didn't have the hotel phone # (didn't take key as wife in room) either got the wrong Holiday Inn branch or got put though to the wrong room as the person he spoke to wasn't his wife. Not able to contact anyone, not having the ID he needed and not knowing the "system" it took until early evening the next day to sort everything out, get David released and in contact with his now VERY upset wife and kids.
Couple of "morals to the story" are I guess
1) don't even have a couple of beers and drive even if it's only a short distance, it's not worth it (but I know most of us have done it occassionally).
2) Make sure you know some contact numbers. Hotel, travel agent, friend who you can call and they know how to contact your family.
Anyone that doesnt have a travel agent locally and would sleep easier having someone local they can call who can contact their friends or family is more than welcome to drop me an IM or email with their details, I'll give you my home and mobile #s so you have a contact in the unlikely event you have an emergency. I don't expect to ever get called, but I'm happy to be called if it's needed and I can help.
Keep safe guys
Here's the story.
David and his family had enjoyed an afternoon round the the pool and had drunk ( literally ) a couple of beers during the afternoon. It was 2nd day of their vacation and due to a little bit of jet lag the kids ( 4 and 6) flaked out about 6 in the evening. Mom and dad had a couple more beers in the room and decided a Pizza was the way forward as they didn't like the hotel restaurant David decided a quick drive to Pizzahut was the best choice as it was just a couple of minutes drive from the hotel. On his way to the restaurant David got rearended, no injuries but sufficient damage to mean the cars couldn't be moved quickly, police came, other driver was obviously drunk or stoned and he got busted. The police also wanted to test David (I'm still trying to find out if the copper was truthful on this part) telling him that it is standard when a crash involves a drunk driver that all involved have to get a test. Anyway, David goes to police station, fails test (borderline), gets told he's going to be spending the night in chokey and that he can make a phone call and here comes the part where lack of preperation hurts him. Didn't have the hotel phone # (didn't take key as wife in room) either got the wrong Holiday Inn branch or got put though to the wrong room as the person he spoke to wasn't his wife. Not able to contact anyone, not having the ID he needed and not knowing the "system" it took until early evening the next day to sort everything out, get David released and in contact with his now VERY upset wife and kids.
Couple of "morals to the story" are I guess
1) don't even have a couple of beers and drive even if it's only a short distance, it's not worth it (but I know most of us have done it occassionally).
2) Make sure you know some contact numbers. Hotel, travel agent, friend who you can call and they know how to contact your family.
Anyone that doesnt have a travel agent locally and would sleep easier having someone local they can call who can contact their friends or family is more than welcome to drop me an IM or email with their details, I'll give you my home and mobile #s so you have a contact in the unlikely event you have an emergency. I don't expect to ever get called, but I'm happy to be called if it's needed and I can help.
Keep safe guys
