Road Safety and Transportation
Many students underestimate the risk of road safety abroad and become victims of a road or traffic-related accident. According to
Association for Safe International Travel (ASIRT) road accidents are the leading cause of death and injury for healthly Americans travelling abroad. In many countries persons under a certain age are prohibited from renting motor vehicles. AU Abroad has a zero tolerance policy in regard these regulations and reserves the right to dismiss from study abroad any student found in violation of such country-specific prohibitions.
A few words of advice before you depart:
- Don’t expect to operate a motor vehicle abroad.
- Research the safest transportation options in your host country
and while you are abroad:
- Don’t drive or operate motorized vehicles.
- Avoid travelling late at night by road in countries with poor safety records and/or mountainous terrain.
- Know the dates of local holidays when traffic, and accident rates, rise.
- Make sure that you are easily visible to drivers when walking.
- Don’t hitchhike
- Use only legal, licensed taxis.
- Do not accept lifts from anyone that you do not know.
- Do not get into a taxi or any other form of public transportation if the driver seems intoxicated, over-tired or irrational, even if you are acquainted with the driver.
- Always wear your seat built
- Follow the guidance of local program staff
- Remember that the pedestrian rarely has the right of way.
Additional resources
