Driving in countries other than your own can be a challenging experience to say the least. Most countries have their own unique traffic and highway regulations and local drivers have their own quirks and idiosyncrasies in their approaches to the road.
The first thing that a visitor planning to drive abroad need to do is to make sure they obtain the necessary legal documentation permitting them to drive in their country of choice. In many cases, a license from your home country will be sufficient. In other cases an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required.
Such permits are available to those who have already obtained a valid driving license in their home country and may be used in all countries that have signed the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. IDPs are also recognized in a number of countries that are not party to the convention.
The first issue that many drivers face when negotiating the road abroad is that of adjusting to driving on a side that’s opposite to the one they’re used in their home country. This can be tricky and there is no way to prepare for it. Hire cars in which the steering and controls are on the opposite side can serve as useful reminders while driving your own vehicle can make things more difficult.
International traffic signs have, unfortunately, yet to be completely standardized so what applies in North America may not apply in Europe or other continents. Holiday makers are advised to familiarize themselves with the most common road signs used in their destination of choice prior to their arrival.
Traffic lights are something of an exception to the above rule with red and green always implying stop and go respectively. Amber, however, can mean different things in one country to the next so it’s imperative that you are aware of its meaning in your specific holiday destination. It’s also worth noting that in some countries traffic in the inside lane may turn left at a red light provided it is clear and safe to do so.
Drivers should also be aware that often contrary to logic and common sense, road priorities might differ in other countries. Though laws may say one thing, what is actually observed by the locals may be something entirely different. You may find yourself in close encounters with vehicles choosing to turn right at junctions where you would presume traffic coming straight on in the opposite direction would have priority.
In many countries car signals are used selectively or neglected entirely so visitors are advised to always be prepared for sudden maneuvers such as drivers in front making left turns or changing lanes without warning. Overtaking on the inside is legal in some countries and illegal in others but you are likely find this practiced in some places despite laws prohibiting it.
In some countries, in the case of a road traffic accident, the police may be biased in favor of local drivers, irrespective of which party was in fact negligent. In such situations you may be forced to swallow the injustice and accept that you or your insurance company are going to have to pay out. The alternative is to insist on the opinion of another officer but this may also bring about unfavorable results for foreign drivers.
Tips
- Make sure you obtain an IDP or the required permit for the country you are holidaying in.
- Study the rules of the road and the meaning of road signs and lights of your chosen destination before you arrive.
- Never presume that you automatically have priority at a junction.
- Be prepared for erratic driving behavior, making absolute alertness necessary at all times.
- Inform yourself of local driving etiquette.
- Figure out early on the local attitude towards horn usage. In some countries beeping might make you a victim of a road rage attack while in others it’s an essential tool for survival.