The post-pandemic era has brought with it an increased passion for travel around the world. Visitors once again are feeling the joy of actually “being there.”
At the same time, the world continues to experience a critical global road safety crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.19 million people die each year in road crashes, and between 20 to 50 million more suffer non-fatal, often life-altering injuries.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years, clearly affecting the young adult demographic. And road crashes are a leading cause of non-natural deaths for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half of medical evacuations to the U.S. are the result of a road crash.
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Additional data from WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 indicate that an alarming 53% of all road traffic fatalities are considered vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (23%); riders of powered two- and three-wheelers such as motorcycles (21%); cyclists (6%); and users of micro-mobility devices including e-scooters (3%). Students, faculty, and employees are particularly vulnerable pedestrians, passengers, cyclists, and scooter riders when on campus, and even more so when traveling abroad. While visiting other countries, they often are insufficiently aware of traffic laws, road conditions, road cultures, pedestrian infrastructure, and the state of available public and private transport.
As risk managers arrange travel, they may be concerned about terrorism, physical security, mental health, disease, and safe drinking water. However, the data clearly indicate they actually should be more concerned with the risks of navigating roads. Program providers are advised to plan itineraries with road safety in mind and offer effective road safety guidance. To do so, a systematic approach is recommended for reducing administrators’ stress and for planning and preparing travelers for their overseas experiences.
4 Ways to Prepare Students for Road Safety Abroad
A critical first step toward road safety preparedness is assessing and evaluating current road safety practices, policies, guidelines, and strategies. For example, survey the policies or guidelines that may be in place or are needed related to concerns such as driving while abroad, avoiding specific cities or towns, and being aware of protocols should political protests erupt.
Next, review existing strategies or create new ones related to road safety. Developing and sharing hypothetical road travel scenarios and approaches for handling them is important to help travelers recognize road risks and provide them with options to navigate unexpected situations. For example, when traveling on public transport and the driver is speeding or driving erratically, what steps could the traveler take?
As part of the evaluation, it’s also important to assess locations to which travelers are going. Recognize that specific road risks often differ from travelers’ home countries and in different regions within countries. Even in destinations with good safety records, road regulations and road cultures vary. For example, speeding may be common, signs are often unfamiliar, and both signs and traffic lights are placed in a variety of locations. Crashes involving pedestrians are particularly high for visitors who are accustomed to a different traffic flow direction.
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The existence, quality, and safety of modes of transport also differ from country to country. Become familiar with public transportation systems and with the safety records of bus, taxi, and ride-share companies in destination countries. Private and public transport drivers may be known not to obey the rules of the road. Licenses may be illegally obtained. Speeding, illegal passing and turning, and failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists and pedestrians may be common. While local, less expensive, exotic forms of transportation like rickshaws, matatus, jeepneys, open trucks, motorcycle taxis, and people-drawn vehicles may be appealing as cultural experiences, their poor safety records make them undesirable options.
After assessing and evaluating road safety in destination countries, the next step is to use this information to develop itineraries. As planners build itineraries and choose specific routes, they should also keep in mind road conditions that include poor road designs, inadequate road and bridge maintenance, lack of shoulders or guardrails, difficult or non-existent pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, heavy truck traffic, narrow winding roads, poor lighting, and a mix of motorized and non-motorized or animal-drawn vehicles moving at varying speeds.
Further considerations for itinerary planning include evaluating alternative routes and timelines based on seasonal conditions and hazards such as heavy fog, dangerous snow and ice storms, and flooding from severe rainstorms. Planners and travelers also are advised against night travel in many countries. Poor road surfaces, rugged terrain, night-fatigued or speeding drivers, carjackings and robberies, and a lack of roadside assistance on dark roads increase road risks.
After itineraries are finalized, the next step is to prepare travelers during “know before you go” pre-departure and onsite orientations by communicating the importance of road safety and making safe road travel choices in destination countries. Successful orientations often include road safety role-play scenarios. For example, a traveler is planning to hire a taxi or rideshare. What should they look for before entering the vehicle? Anecdotal information from previous travelers will likely provide a variety of useful scenarios to share with travelers.
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As part of pre-departure sessions, remind travelers who plan to bike or scooter to bring helmets because in some countries, they may not be available or meet safety standards. All travelers should be encouraged to bring reflective gear. For other helpful tips, travelers should be encouraged to connect with colleagues or peers who have previously visited the same destination. These interactions often provide valuable information such as how to travel from the airport to home base. Conversations and orientations often help travelers feel better equipped to make informed travel decisions and lessen their anxiety.
The safest traveler is the well-informed traveler. When risk managers and administrators include road safety as a core component of travel preparation, provide destination-specific road safety information, conduct road safety orientations and training for travelers, and solicit feedback post-travel for ongoing reevaluation and program improvement, they will help provide travelers with a safe and fulfilling experience.
Rochelle Sobel is the founder and president of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), a nonprofit organization that promotes road travel safety throughout the world via education and advocacy. Ms. Sobel founded ASIRT in response to her son Aron’s death in a 1995 bus crash in Turkey. Aron, a 25-year-old medical student, and 22 other passengers were killed in that crash.
Interested in accessing ASIRT resources? To get 20% off, visit https://asirt.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay and add the code CS20 in the comments field when you subscribe. Subscribers will receive access to 20 Road Safety Reviews (RSR) for $800 and to all reports for $1600 for one year.
Readers can also sign up to receive free sample reports at https://www.asirt.org/resources/.
