Unfortunately one of the major causes of holiday accidents is lack of awareness of road safety issues. With this in mind, the following are some simple road safety tips to keep in mind when you’re on holiday:

1. Walking / Pedestrian
When walking as a pedestrian in a foreign country always be aware of the traffic patterns around you. Where possible, walk on the pavement. In countries where walking on pavements is not possible, try to ensure that you walk into oncoming traffic, not with your back turned on it. Also, make sure you’re wearing reflective, bright clothing; especially if you are out walking at night. Finally, some countries have different rules regarding walking across roads at intersections and pedestrian-crossings. In this regard, do not automatically assume vehicles are going to stop for you; for example, at red-lights there may still be a right of way when turning left or right, as the case may be.

2. On the road
When traveling anywhere by road, try to avoid overloaded/overcrowded vehicles. If you think the transport may be overcrowded or overloaded, ask for a refund and/or travel on the next one. During the journey, if you believe the driver is acting recklessly, politely ask the driver to adjust his/her driving style. If they refuse, kindly ask to get off the vehicle and take their name so as to report this to the transport company.

3. Motorcycles
One of the major causes of road accidents whilst on holiday involves motorcycles – especially where the driver is not used to driving a motorcycle and where a beach is near by. If you are going to be visiting a beach resort, and you want to rent a motorcycle to get around, do not drive the motorcycle in the attire you’re going to be wearing at the beach (i.e. swimsuit). Make sure you cover up well and wear a safety helmet. Remember, tarmac on raw skin not only hurts but is likely to leave a scar that’ll not go away easily.

4. General
Aside from those road safety tips mentioned above, please keep in mind the following general road safety tips:
a. only take taxis that have safety-belts. If you’re in a country where this is literally impossible, ride in the back.
b. Avoid intoxicated/over-tired taxi drivers. In some countries, taxi drivers are required to work long hours in order to make a living with little or no legislation requiring them to take a rest period. If this applies to the place you’re visiting, make sure you avoid any taxi driver you believe to be tired or intoxicated.
c. Let someone else know where you’ll be / carry a mobile phone. If you plan a journey, make sure that others know what bus/coach, etc. you’re going to be on. Also, if possible, always carry a mobile phone – just in case you need it. In this regard, try not to take taxi rides late at night by yourself if you are unfamiliar with your surroundings.

Above all else though, stay alert at all times and don’t let a traffic accident spoil your vacation.

There have been places for the tired and weary traveler to stop and stay at since time immemorial. After all, Jesus himself was born in a stable – having been turned away from an Inn. The Romans exported the concept of thermal baths all over Europe (notably to Britain) during their time as colonial power. And even the Greeks has a form of an Inn in their heyday. But, when can we say the hotel industry really developed into the multi-million dollar business sector that it has become today?

The Early Days – filing in the register
If we are not to include that period of time when the Romans and Greeks were busy looking after worn weary travelers - but try to look back to the time when the modern hotel was born - then, depending on where in the world you live, the earliest “legalized” forms of hotels started to spring up between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. The thirteenth century is the date often cited as being the time when staging posts in China and Mongolia first started to appear. However, its questionable whether you can really differentiate between these and those earlier Inns kept by the Romans. So, if we are really looking for the first form of “legalized” hotel, then the period would have to be the fifteenth century: when both French and English law started to require Inns to keep a register of all their guests.

The brand name
Around the same time as French and English law required Inns to keep registers of their guest, Inns started to take on the shape of hostelries. In their primitive form, the architecture of these places was such that they contained a paved interior court, which could be accessed through an arched porch. Both sides of the courtyard had rooms for lodging in. On the outside of the “hotel” was hung a signboard announcing to the world that it was both a place to stay and eat – and the brand name was born!

The business and leisure travelers
The next real step in the development of the hotel industry came as a result of two major events in mankind’s overall development – (i) the stage coach, which used to stop off at Inns on its way between towns; and (ii) the Industrial Revolution, which resulted in the first real business and leisure travelers. The second of these two events also caused the first hotels to be built in city centers – notably, the first inner-city hotel was built in New York City.
At about the same time modern day spas started to spring up all over the place – notably mainland Europe – and well-heeled travelers started to venture further a field, to North Africa and India.

Le Grand Hotel Paris
All of the earlier developments in the hotel industry finally came together in the culmination of the world’s first “Grand Hotel” – Le Grand Hotel, Paris. Le Grand opened its doors for business in 5 May 1862 with a spectacular inauguration presided over by Empress Eugenie. Although many a fine hotel has opened since Le Grand, and although many may claim the accolade of being more luxurious than Le Grand, anyone contemplating a night’s stay in a Paris hotel still has the choice of a night at Le Grand: evidence that to this day, hotels are here to stay!

Each of us likes to believe that we’re safe drivers, aware of our own road safety obligations. However, not all countries are alike and some times what we consider to be safe driving, and driver awareness, at home is not consider the same elsewhere. The following are some driver awareness tips to keep in mind if you’re considering an overseas driving trip.

a. if you’re required to drive the vehicle on the “other side of the road”, make sure you take a few moments to familiarize yourself with this. It’s a natural reaction for those used to driving on one side of the road to act on instinct; however, such matters as going around roundabouts and right of way may well change when you have to drive on the other side of the road. Therefore, before you drive off, take yourself on a couple of laps of the parking lot.

b. familiarize yourself with the vehicle’s controls: certain vehicles manufactured in different parts of the world have different control systems. Therefore, make sure you familiarize yourself with these before you drive off. An example here, European vehicles tend to have their indicators on the left and windscreen wipers on the right; however, Japanese manufactured vehicles are the exact opposite. If you are not familiar with this, this could cause you a problem in your moment of need.

c. make sure your rental vehicle has all your usual safety devices. Some countries have different rules regarding such issues as rear seatbelts, ABS, air-bags, etc. If you are used to these safety functions, try to ensure that the rental company rents you a vehicle with as many safety functions as you’re normally used to driving with at home.

d. buy a highway code: if you cannot purchase a highway code for the country you’re going to be driving in before you depart, make sure the rental company has one to give to you immediately upon your arrival. Take a look at this to familiarize yourself with the normal road customs and signs before you go anywhere. It is very important that you recognize that some countries have very different road customs to what you’re used to; for example, in some countries flashing of headlights can mean “please go”, whilst in others it means “stay where you are, it’s my right of way I’m coming through”.

e. check the vehicle out thoroughly: make sure that you take the vehicle to the nearest garage and do a preliminary check of all its functions; for example, check out the tire pressure. Also, don’t wait till it gets dark before you check the headlights, or till it rains before you check out the windscreen wipers – by then it may be too late!

f. be aware of other road users: this is especially important if you’re traveling in a country that has a lot of motorcycle drivers. Be aware of where they are. Make sure you use your rear-view mirror and side-mirrors more than you would normally. Also, some countries have specified lanes for certain types of vehicles An example here may be local law requirements that buses and motorcycles only use the slow lane of any road.. If you think this applies, make sure you are aware of it.

g. try not to drive at night: if you are unfamiliar with the roads, try to avoid driving at night, when your vision and awareness levels may be affected. In any event, never drink and drive – regardless of what the local laws on this may be.

Aside from the above, also keep in mind all your usual safety and driver awareness issues: such as not using your cell phone when driving, not taking as gospel any directions from other drivers, and being courteous to other road users at all times. Hopefully, this way you’ll be able to have a great time whilst driving on holiday!