FCO steers British tourists in the right direction
FCO steers British tourists in the right direction
The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of road safety abroad. The FCO's 'Steer Clear of Trouble on Foreign Roads' campaign follows the news that two thirds of British drivers run into problems on overseas roads.
The FCO's research revealed that tourists are three times as likely to be involved in a road accident than local drivers. The figures show that almost a third (31 per cent) of Britons have driven on the wrong side of the road and more than one in 10 have traversed a roundabout the wrong way.
However, the FCO's new campaign hopes to educate drivers on driving and road safety abroad. Motoring expert Quentin Wilson is backing the FCO's work: "No matter how experienced a driver you are in the UK, it is important to expect the unexpected when driving abroad...The best way to avoid being caught out is to research your destination." Wilson pointed out that you not only need to be aware of what side of the road to drive on, but also of any particular laws pertaining to the particular area, and it is important to familiarise yourself with these; only 37 per cent of British drivers do so at present.
Not being prepared can also lead to tourists making dangerous driving decisions, as well as getting lost and running out of petrol or unknowingly driving into dangerous areas.
Nevertheless, it is not just drivers who experience problems; 54 per cent of holidaymakers have had near misses as a pedestrian.
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16 June 2008
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