Traveling by car

Drive safely abroad

Preparations

Traveling long distances by car or driving in a foreign country can be a stressful experience. It is therefore important to prepare yourself well. Make sure to service your vehicle before leaving to minimize possible hazards while away.

If you are traveling to a foreign country, learn about the country’s driving laws and local speed limits. Likewise, make sure that your permit is recognized, or find out if you need an international driving permit. Remember that provisional permits are only valid in your own country.

What to take with you

Take along any vehicle-related documents or objects you might need during your trip. For example, you should have a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a tool kit in your car as well as emergency signs and reflective jackets. Do not forget to take your registration document, driving license, breakdown cover and travel insurance documents with you. It is also a good idea to write down any emergency contact numbers that could prove useful and to bring a spare set of car keys.

While on the road

While on the road in a foreign country, you may be exposed to two main kinds of danger: traffic accidents and crime. As local driving styles can be very different from the ones you are used to, it is important that you drive defensively. Make sure that everyone in the car wears their safety belts at all times. It is best not to drink and drive at all, as the local alcohol limit may be lower than in your country. Do not use your mobile phone when driving. If you have an accident, contact your insurance agent and remember to take pictures of any damage to your car.

Meanwhile, certain precautions can diminish the risk of being the victim of a crime when driving abroad. While driving, you should keep the car doors locked and the windows closed whenever possible. Avoid driving or parking your car on the street at night and remove any valuables from the car. If you cannot take them with you, do not leave them in sight; lock them instead inside your trunk. Remember to be cautious toward anyone who looks suspicious: thieves and robbers will often try to get your attention by asking for assistance or by signaling that you have a flat tire. They often work in groups: while one person will try to get your attention, others will try to steal your luggage or car. Likewise, be careful not to leave anything of value on the passenger seat, as it might incite criminals to smash car windows at a traffic light and snatch your exposed valuables. Finally, remember to never pick up hitchhikers.

Should you rent a car, bear the following in mind. Only hire from a reputable company and be informed about what insurance is provided. Try renting a car model that is commonly available locally so that you will blend in. Should your car have markings that identify it as a rental car, ask them to be removed.

Car sickness

What is car sickness?

Car sickness is a form of motion sickness characterized by sensations of nausea and vertigo. It is caused by a conflict of information between the motion that you see and the motion that you feel. Usually, the brain relies on signals from the eyes and the inner ear to determine the body's center of gravity while in motion. But when a second motion (e.g. the movement of the car) is added and the eyes and inner ears each report a different motion, the contradiction can result in sickness. If, for example, you are reading a book while the car is moving forward, your inner ears will sense a forward motion, but your eyes, which are looking at something that is not moving, will not confirm the forward motion.

Avoiding car sickness

To prevent experiencing car sickness, make sure that your eyes and your inner ears receive the same motion information. Thus, instead of reading or doing any kind of detailed work, look in the direction the car is moving and opt to sit in the front seat. If someone else is car sick, avoid watching or talking to him.

What can you do once you have car sickness?

First of all, stop what you are doing and continually look through the front windows to align your senses. If this is not helping, stop the car at a rest stop for awhile and get some fresh air. Once parked, your senses will once again perceive the same, single motion and the sickness will go away. In certain cases, medication has proved to be helpful, as it can normalize the condition of the body and thus help you to adapt.