Gap Year Advice for Safe Road Travel
Adjust to Driving Differences
Road travel is relatively safe in many Western lands such as the UK or America, due to the good roads and efficient traffic management. However, step over to Italy or India and you will not find the same conditions of road travel that you are used to back home. Drivers are especially aggressive in some lands and will proceed to drive, even when a pedestrian is walking across the road, so make sure you cross with caution if you are walking, or even while driving. The key is to observe how drivers abroad manage the roads and to never assume another driver will act in the way you would expect them to back home. While driving defensively on the roads abroad will not completely rule out the possibility of a road traffic accident; it can help to reduce the risk and keep you safer.
Switching Sides
Driving abroad during your gap year can give you a unique insight into the local culture and what there is to see and do when you are not working. For some gap year travellers, it is the first time they have ever driven on the other side of the road, which can be particularly troublesome if you are from the UK and have never driven on the right. Drivers should thoroughly prepare themselves to drive abroad and research the country's road traffic laws, rules and regulations. Is it legal to turn right on a red traffic light? How should you navigate a roundabout when you drive on the right? If you are pulled over by a police officer for a road traffic violation while you are on your gap year abroad, pleading ignorance of the law will not save you from prosecution under the local law, which is why you should know how to drive safely and correctly.
Enjoy your gap year even more by making sure you are prepared for differences in road travel while you are abroad. Make needed adjustments to local driving differences and research the local laws and regulations on road travel.
Source:
Published by Sophie S - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Sophie is a British expat who has been living abroad in the United States for the past 5 years. She writes on a diverse variety of subjects and is particularly interested in sharing her personal knowledge ab... View profile
-
Road Travel Tips and Information for Driving in the UK
Road travel in the UK can really make a vacation one to remember. However, it is important to remember the rules of the road and some general safety tips to insure your road tri...
- A Revelation About the Road Traffic Act The Road Traffic Act says that only the registered owner of a vehicle is liable for parking violations.
-
Is a Gap Year Right for Your Child?
Some kids aren't ready for college right after high school. For many, taking advantage of a gap year helps develop maturity, self-confidence and a more focused college experien...
-
Road Travel Tips for Those with Small Children
The summer season is upon us, and for many that means vacations! The thought of vacation brings a smile to your face. The thought of being in the car with your small children...
-
Road Fatalities at Nearly Five Deaths a Minute
Worldwide, over 3,000 road traffic fatalities every day; millions more injured every year. Impact on family,community is devastating. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic V...
- Travel From Milwaukee to Canada: All in a Weekend
- Is Travel Writing Ultimately About the Traveler or the Place?
- Travel: Learning from Experience
- The Idiots Guide to Driving by CAID
- Full Text of Barack Obama's Speech
- Sodom
- Advice on Gap Year Safety Abroad
|
|
- Adjust to driving differences by observing how drivers behave
- Switching sides can be hard; research the road laws before you leave
7 Comments
Post a CommentGood job on this.
Good info on road safety when overseas.
great tips... :o)
Excellent info here!
Very good tips!
Yes, you're right about the difference in road signs, Tony. I've seen that too. I've also noticed that manual cars are not so common in America than in the UK or other parts of the world though. I very rarely see them in this country. Sophie
Good advice. The road signs are different in other countries, as are the rules of the road. I t pays to read the highway code before you arrive. Also most other countries have more manual (stick shift) cars, so it helps to be able to drive one. In Europe they also have a lot of diesel cars, it's easy to fill up with the wrong fuel and it's a costly mistake!