Travel Safe and Sound
Summer has arrived! The month of excursions and new experiences for those planning on leaving the confines and comforts of home.
With the logistics of planning and budgeting comes the essential questions about safety during your trips.
For those leaving the UK’s borders there are many extra considerations that ought to be heeded. In particular one that is often overlooked. The leading cause of injury and death for any tourist from any country visiting another is….No it is not infection or avalanche or floods or whatever other natural disasters that may befall the intrepid holiday-goer. It's far more familiar. Road traffic accidents. Yes, RTAs which include pedestrian mishaps is the most significant danger that you will face. Thus it pays to be aware of what the rules, if any, are in the countries you intend to visit. It also is useful to research this aspect online to get an idea of “what to do” and “not to do” when “in Rome”, as it were.
Here are some simple tips/points of advice to consider:
Left or Right? Simple Googling will reveal on which side of the road does traffic flow? Few countries follow the UK, left side of the road determination (notable lefties include Australia, India, Japan South Africa and New Zealand). Obviously it pays to know from what direction one should be paying particular attention to when crossing a road. However, in narrow streets or large concourses this might be in all the directions, on a plane surface, possible.
Not every pedestrian crossing is a pedestrian crossing! Beware what you think are you God given rights as a foot traveller versus the mechanised river before you.
Wearing seatbelts wherever you are is another simple yet sensible safety precaution. Preventable knocks to the head against windows and seats are why belts exist (and to help insurance companies, if you know what I mean).
Nature of the vehicle and the driver. Yes this is less in your control, and is where your 6th sense hopefully is primed or as the Arabian proverb intimates, “the signs for those of deep understanding are clear”. Thus you always have a choice. And if the driver is falling asleep, talk to them, offer them water/coffee or request a bathroom break at the next “station”.
If you are driving then ensure that you have hired a good car from a reputable agent and that you are also aware of any driving rules and signs necessary to do so safely. Likewise learning about road conditions, common hazards and customs is very valuable. Allow yourself time to drive to a location, haste in unknown situations is asking for trouble. Hopefully you should know how to use a gear stick on the opposite side or opt for an automatic. Better still, hire a driver!
Download Google Maps in your area of travel before you leave or whilst you have access to WiFi to enable you to make use of this “off line” sat nav should your data fail at a critical time. Planning your routes is always a win. Finally do not think that the best route is often the shortest when travelling to a remote area as often it entails tracks and trails or inclines which will challenge the nerves of all onboard. Straight lines on a map usually mean solid, safe, well lit highways, much more fun than hairpins on a mountain crawling under moonlight!
Avoid driving when tired and do not take medication that can cause drowsiness. This is ABC for wherever you venture, home and abroad.
Caution when driving off road and especially those quad bikes on undulating terrain. Usually tourists tend to think that this type of adventure is as safe as driving in a dodgem car ride. No it isn’t, especially when the driver has NEVER driven such vehicles ever and are not aware of the power or rolling movements with such vehicles.
Finally, have a great time. Be safe, and yes, fortune favours the brave! But not the stupid.