Driving in a foreign country is beneficial for several reasons. For starters, you want to avoid the overcrowded bus and railway stations that tend to be prone to pickpockets.
If you are traveling for business, driving provides a faster means to move from point A to B, especially when you have several meetings in different locations. In addition, with COVID-19 around, you are better off using private means to move around to reduce the risk of infection.
However, driving in a foreign country is different from driving in your home country. You could find that traffic laws, vehicles or even the side they drive on are different from what you are used to, in addition to driving on unfamiliar roads. It is important that you are extra cautious when driving in a foreign country.
In this article, we discuss five safety tips when driving in a foreign land.
1. Acquire an International Driver License
The international driver license is the most basic legal document to allow you to drive a vehicle in a foreign country. In fact, some major car rental companies can’t rent out a car to a foreigner without an international driver license. It is acceptable in most countries all over the world; you only have to confirm whether it is applicable in the foreign country that you are visiting. It can also be used for identification since it bears your name and the country you are from.
Driving without a permit is illegal in most countries. To avoid conflicts with the police in case you are flagged down, it is important that you have this important document. You can apply for one online or get assistance from your travel agency.
2. Ensure you are at your best form
A common cause of accidents is drunk driving and the drivers’ inability to fully concentrate on the road. It is typical for someone under the influence not to care about the road signs or even notice an oncoming vehicle. Additionally, certain medications have some sleeping effect and you risk dozing off while behind the wheel after taking them. The same case happens when under a lot of stress or when you don't get enough sleep.
Always ensure you don’t take alcohol or medication that has intoxicating effects when you have to drive, so as to keep your mind intact. On top of that, it is advisable to get someone to drive you in case you feel you need some more sleep, feel tired or stressed.
3. Ensure the vehicle you drive is in perfect condition
Faulty and unroadworthy vehicles contribute a lot in most accidents. Vehicles with no indicators, faulty horns, overused tires and faulty engines among other problems can be very challenging to navigate, not forgetting it is against the law to drive such vehicles. It is also difficult for you to alert other road users when everything isn’t working.
For safety purposes, ensure the car you pick is in a good condition. Better still, ask for an inspection certificate to avoid taking any risk when renting the vehicle.
4. Familiarize yourself with the traffic laws and signs
Some Safety traffic laws are common worldwide while others only apply to specific countries.
Basically, the laws and signs are meant to warn road users and maintain sanity on the roads. They include stop signs, slippery roads, sharp bends, zebra crossing, no entry roads, driving limits among others.
When driving on an unfamiliar road, road signs are perfect for guidance when utilized perfectly. Ensure you are keen not to miss any, and you are able to interpret the signs correctly. You can get a copy of the traffic laws upon arrival to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law.
5. Be mindful of the weather around
A fair share of accidents do happen due to bad weather. When it rains heavily or gets too foggy, it tends to get dark and drivers rarely see the road clearly. It is even worse when driving on an unfamiliar road in a foreign country.
If you are traveling during winter, you need to be extra cautious when driving. Ensure that you switch on the fog lights to help you see the road and other vehicles clearly. In addition, be sure to drive very slowly in this state of the weather.
Conclusion
Having a road accident or finding yourself on the wrong side of the law when driving in a foreign country is the last thing you want to deal with. Besides wasting your time, it is very hard to navigate such situations in a place that you aren’t familiar with. This is why regardless of the space you are driving in, safety should be a top priority.
In addition, it is advisable to consider taking an insurance cover in case of such eventualities.
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