Did you know 38.1 million U.S. residents traveled overseas in 2022? That’s up from 18.21 million and 9.84 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively, but down from 44.81 million in 2019.
If traveling to an international destination, you might add “renting a car” to your to-do list. That can help you explore the country on your terms. In addition to ensuring you have the right coverage for international driving, there are other things to remember when driving abroad.
Keep reading to see three tips to help you stay safe when driving internationally.
1. Understand the Rules of the Road
You must learn the rules of the road at your vacation destination. Don’t assume the rules will be the same as you’re accustomed to at home.
If used to using left-hand-drive vehicles, you might struggle with operating a car where the steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the side.
Just because you can drive with no issues on North American roads doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be easy to adjust to driving in a place like the UK where motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road rather than on the right-hand side like in North America.
Don’t wait until you arrive at your vacation destination to research the rules of the road. Ensure you understand all the ins and outs before you board the plane. It’ll make for a more pleasant vacation experience, and you can avoid problems that lead to white-knuckle situations.
2. Don’t Drink and Drive
This one seems obvious, but the reality is too many people think nothing of getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol. While it’s a bad idea to drink and drive in your home country, it can be much worse doing it in a foreign country where the penalties can be much worse. The last thing you want is to go on a fun vacation and end up in a prison cell.
While you should simply avoid drinking and driving altogether, it’s still worth your while to learn about the laws about blood alcohol content levels in whatever country you’re visiting. Some countries have a zero-tolerance policy. If visiting a country like Armenia, Romania, or Jordan, you can’t have any alcohol in your blood. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so do your research so your trip isn’t memorable for all the wrong reasons.
3. Know What to Do If Involved in an Accident
One source notes there are 1.25 million road fatalities globally every year, and the number of those deaths related to alcohol adds up to about 273,000 people annually. If you’re driving abroad and get into an accident that leaves you injured, you’ll want to seek medical attention right away. You should also contact a personal injury lawyer for advice on what to do.
Getting injured abroad will add extra layers of complexity in getting the compensation you need, but a personal injury lawyer can help you. Don’t wait until you get home to contact a lawyer. You will need copies of the police report, information from others involved in the accident, records from doctor visits, and evidence from the accident scene. It’ll be difficult to get this information after returning to your home country, so get it before you depart.
When vacationing, the last thing you want is to worry about problems that could occur. But the best course of action is to hope for the best while preparing for the worst. So, keep these three points in mind if you’re traveling abroad and plan to rent a car during your stay.