Are you planning on going abroad? If so, if you intend on driving, you need to educate yourself on your travel destination’s road laws. A lot of people make the mistake of flying internationally, and then trying to drive the same way they do in the United States.
Not only is it the law to drive on the other side of the road in some countries, it’s also common for traffic laws to differ massively from America’s. For example, in some Asian countries, drivers are allowed to do more or less whatever they want. To stay informed on traffic regulations, it's essential to know what to do with a speeding ticket in California especially if you’re traveling from out of state or unfamiliar with local traffic laws.
This post will explore this topic in more detail and offer some advice you can use to drive wise and stay safe abroad.
1. Researching Personal Injury Lawyers
Before traveling anywhere, it’s a good idea to research personal injury lawyers. You never know when you are going to need to file a claim for compensation. Most personal injury lawyers offer their services on contingency plans, meaning you don’t need to pay them until after they have arranged a settlement for you. One Illinois skilled traffic lawyer makes clear on their site that an attorney’s help is essential if you want the maximum amount of compensation. Attempting to negotiate a settlement on your own is an impossible task. Make sure to find the most qualified and experienced attorneys you can in the place you are traveling so that if you do get injured, you know who to call right away.
2. Staying On the Right Side of the Road
When you are traveling in a foreign country, it’s easy to drive on the wrong side of the road. After all, if you have never driven in another country before, you’re only going to be used to driving on the side of the road that they drive on back at home. However, driving on the wrong side of the road, even accidentally, can cause some very serious accidents. Also worth noting is that if you are seen or caught driving on the wrong side of the road, the police will arrest you and block you from driving any further. Avoid hassle by staying on the right side of the road at all times. It’ll take some adjustment, but you’ll eventually get used to it.
3. Following Local Speed Limits
Make sure that you follow local speed limits at all times. Exceeding the speed limit makes accidents much more likely to occur. In addition to causing accidents, exceeding the speed limit can lead to your arrest. The police are a lot less likely to let you go with a slap on the wrist in a foreign country since it’s commonplace to crack down on tourists breaking the law. The reason that foreign police forces do this is to keep their citizens safe. If you are traveling in a country that has road signs in a language other than English, learn the symbols for different numbers. Learning the country’s numeric system will make it easier for you to stay under the limit. Also ensure that you have a travel app downloaded, since they can help you to stay at the right speed.
4. Download and Use a Travel App
Downloading a travel app will make driving in a foreign country a lot less stressful for you. This is because if you make any mistakes (i.e., exceed the speed limit) the app will notify you. In addition to notifying you if you exceed the speed limit, a travel app will also make it much easier for you to navigate in a foreign country. If you do not speak the local language, the chances are that you will not be able to read road signs. If you are trying to get to somewhere specific, road signs can be hard to follow. A travel app will show you which route you need to follow and offer advice on avoiding accidents and making mistakes. These apps are widely available and are a great way to ensure you don’t get lost or hurt in another country. Some require payment, though most are free. Make sure that you use one.
5. Making Sure You Have Insurance
Traveling in a foreign country without insurance is one of the worst things that you can do. Make sure that you have insurance if you are planning on driving abroad. Ensure you have insurance arranged prior to your arrival so that you’re ready to jump in the driver’s seat and go as soon as your plane lands. A lot of people leave insurance until the last minute. While insurance is very easy to arrange in the United States, in some countries it can be quite complicated. Setting it up before you arrive means you won’t have to worry about anything going wrong or any interruptions. You can usually book travel insurance online. If you are going to be driving a rental car, make sure you get the vehicle’s registration and plate number prior to arrival so that you can furnish the insurer you’ve chosen to work with the relevant information.
6. Reporting Any Collisions or Accidents
Finally, if you are involved in any accidents, make sure that you report them to the police. In some countries, you have to notify the police within 48 hours of an accident. Allowing 48 hours to pass without notifying them can lead to your arrest. Also, make sure that you notify the attorney you have chosen to work with. You can usually handle personal injury claims online, so you don’t necessarily need to stick around in the country you visited just to see your claim out. Meet your attorney in person, then go home. Any further information they need from you can be supplied online. Make sure that you find the most experienced lawyer you can, since the more experienced one’s legal representative is, the more likely you are to get the maximum amount of compensation.
Car accidents are hard to predict. You never know when they are going to occur. If you have been unfortunate enough to have been involved in one in a foreign country, get in touch with a lawyer. A lawyer will get you the compensation you deserve.
