10 tips for drivers on holidays abroad

Here are 10 top tips to help you enjoy your driving holiday abroad:Injuries from road traffic accidents (RTAs) are now the main reason for personal injury claims in the UK – including drivers and passengers who have been injured in RTAs on holidays abroad.

• Check the safety record of any car hire company you rent from BEFORE you sign the agreement
• Book car hire with reputable companies wherever possible – even if this costs a little more than local car hire firms
• Never accept a vehicle which looks unsafe or which you have a gut feeling about – if the car you booked is not available when you arrive to pick it up and a replacement looks poorly maintained, insist on being given the car you booked or another of the same standard and don’t be fobbed off
• Make sure your insurance covers driving overseas – especially if you are not only driving cars but motorbikes, quad bikes and other vehicles which may be regarded as risky by insurers
• Know the local highway code and road rules – and be very careful how you drive if you are used to driving in the UK and are not experienced at driving on the right side of the road, especially in poor lighting or weather conditions
• Research your routes before you arrive in your holiday destination – using motoring apps to negotiate new routes, dangerous roads and any traffic snarl-ups or accidents along the way can help keep you safe
• If you are tailgated by another vehicle or a vehicle flashes its lights or tries to make you pull over, think twice before you stop and wind down the window – thieves abroad are targeting motorists, so be wary of any tactics to make you stop, even in popular holiday destinations like Spain
• Lock up valuables or take them with you – and never leave possessions visible in your holiday car or you might find the car and your valuables missing when you return
• If you are involved in an accident abroad, do not try to drive away but wait by the vehicle – researching the various police procedures for RTAs in your holiday destination is a good idea before you depart
• Be polite and calm to local police if you are involved in an RTA abroad – language barriers and shock can make drivers on holiday nervy, but stay calm and co-operate with any local officials if you are involved in an RTA on holiday abroad.