Safety and travel

Road safety

Road safety is not something that you may necessarily think about in planning your study abroad experience, yet the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) reports that road crashes will soon become the third greatest global health concern. In fact, death and serious injury from road crashes are among the greatest risk for healthy travelers. And, contrary to popular belief, 85% of such crashes occur in industrialized countries. You can minimize your risk by assessing road culture in your areas and implementing safe precautions.

ASIRT suggests that you:

• select the safest form of transportation in your area
• avoid late night road travel in counties with poor safety records and/or mountainous terrain
• understand how seasonal hazards affect road conditions
• know dates of local holidays (when road accident rates rise)

Additional suggestions for pedestrians are:

• be aware of traffic patterns in your area (they may be very different from the US)
• be especially alert at intersections
• wear reflective clothing if jogging at dusk or dawn (especially in locales where jogging may be uncommon)
• do not walk where you cannot be easily seen
• remember most road fatalities are pedestrians
• avoid hitchhiking

Additional suggestions for passengers are:

• avoid riding with a driver that appears intoxicated, irrational, or over-tired
• always ride in the back seat of a taxi cab
• wear seat belts whenever possible

Many students are tempted to rent cars, mopeds, or motorbikes during their time abroad, but often do so without regard to the risks of driving in a county whose rules of the road are unfamiliar. Therefore, while the Office of Study Abroad understands that some students choose to rent such vehicles largely for economic reasons, OSA does not recommend it. In the past, study abroad participants have been injured and even killed while riding in vehicles with drivers unaccustomed to local driving practices and traffic patterns. To prevent such accidents, some countries also limit the minimum age for drivers to rent a motorized vehicle. Also note that most countries will require an international driver’s license, and driving without one could result in a severe penalty.

Traveling in some developing countries may pose additional road risks. Public transportation in some areas may consist of overcrowded, overweight and top-heavy minivans or buses. Taxicabs may not appear in good condition; drivers may or may not be licensed. Sidewalks may or may not be lit, or exist at all. In these cases, follow the advice of the on-site staff or your faculty leader. They can teach you how to minimize your risk when selecting various modes of transportation.

For more information about safe international road travel, visit the Association for Safe International Road Travel Web site.