Foreign Office Warns Brits About Driving Abroad

by admin on Mar.31, 2010, under Travel insurance

According to research by the Foreign Office, a number of actions like driving on the wrong side of the road, unfamiliarity with rented vehicles and even driver fatigue all peak at the 60 minute driving point. Thus, the Foreign Office wants Brits to be careful when driving abroad.

Geoff Beattie, who is a professor at Manchester University said that people are usually in a happy-go-lucky holiday mood when they hire a car abroad. However, what they really need to consider is that the chances of having an accident and getting injured really increase when rushing onto roads.

Professor Beattie went on to say that peoples’ brains need time to adjust to a number of factors, even routine tasks like driving. Thus, this new research should be like food for thought for anyone that is planning on driving abroad. This goes double for people who are planning to rent things like mopeds or motorbikes, which are at an even greater risk.

These findings from the Foreign Office reveal that a quarter of young independent travelers admit to driving or being the passenger of a moped or quad bike when abroad without first checking if their insurance policy covers them. The manager of the Foreign Office’s ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign, Jess Prasad, said that tourists are three times more likely to be involved in road accidents than locals. It’s very vital that anyone intending to drive abroad should research local driving laws and conditions. They should also ensure that their travel insurance covers them. Too many tourists make the mistake of not even checking on their insurance before they leave for their trip, which is a big mistake.