Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has put together a handy road tool at
www.fcowidget.com
,
which allows you to select your chosen country and be directed to
the local regulations for your trip.
And here are the FCO's key tips for driving abroad:
1. Research - research the driving regulations for the country you will be driving through
and check your insurance policy to ensure you are covered for breakdown recovery, med-
ical expenses and driving overseas.
2. Prepare - prepare for driving abroad, research the regulations of what you are required to
carry in your vehicle and ensure that your own or hired vehicle adheres to these. Remember
these are often very different to the UK.
3. Once on the road - expect the unexpected, drive with confidence and always wear a seat-
belt. Be safe, don't drink and drive, don't overload your vehicle, don't use your mobile, or
get behind the wheel when tired.
Unless you're a very experienced driver, with some off-road experience, we wouldn't ad-
vise hiring a car and driving in many places in the developing world. South-east Asian,
south Asian, South American and African roads are often little more than potholed tracks,
and you really have to know what you're doing when faced with a pecking order decided
purely by the size of your vehicle and the sound of your horn - not to mention negotiating
wandering livestock, hand-pushed carts, overloaded local buses and trucks, and pedestrians
with no road sense whatsoever.
But often you'll find you can hire a car and a driver pretty cheaply for a day or two and
then you'll be an ethical traveller contributing to the local economy.
In Australia, buying a cheap car to tour the country at your own leisure is a popular option.
But attempting to drive around Australia in an old Ford Falcon or some clapped out old
campervan is definitely a challenge.
Ships and boats
If you want to get to the continent, taking a ferry across to France or Belgium can be cheap
- but why not sail free as a working crew member on ships? Take a short course before
hand to qualify as a deck hand or day skipper here, with a charity such as UKSA who offer
professional maritime training courses alongside youth development programmes.
Or how about getting to grips with the rigging on a cruise yacht? There are numerous em-
ployers and private vessel owners out there on the ocean wave who take on amateur and
novice crew. In this way you could gain valuable sailing experience and sea miles. You
can also make some useful contacts on your way to becoming a professional crew member.
And have the time of your life.
