3 Tips for Safe Driving When Studying Abroad

Not everyone gets the opportunity to take their studies to a foreign country during their lifetime. Mixing a different culture with your perception of the world is both thrilling and scary.

Homesickness and culture shock are real problems for young people who go abroad to learn. You need to figure out how to display proper etiquette in restaurants, be polite when greeting a new acquaintance, and even learn the road rules in this temporary residence.

Car insurance for international students is a vital tool if you get in an accident or experience any difficulty related to your vehicle while overseas. The goal is to never need this insurance policy to kick in, though.

We’ll look at some simple and easily applied tips for driving safely when you are studying abroad. The last thing you should have to worry about is injury or trauma from a car when you are having the time of your life in your studies.

1. Learn the Rules of the Road

Driving is pretty much the same at its core no matter what country you are living in or visiting. It is always necessary to have car insurance, a valid license to drive, and seat belts to strap into. But there are other forgotten elements that need to be considered, too.

Learn about the roadways that you are traveling, perhaps by looking at a map beforehand, so that you don’t get lost or travel down a path that needs roadwork or is hazardous because of unfinished pavement.

Read up on whether there are certain transferable road rules from your country to the visiting one, like right-of-way, shoulder driving, and pedestrian laws. It may seem like a hassle when you are supposed to be focusing on your schoolwork, but ignoring it will lead to greater issues at the most inopportune times in your residence.

View it as just another opportunity to learn about the country that you are going to school in. You want to immerse yourself in the full experience of foreign academia, so driving definitely counts in the greater cultural picture of that objective. Have fun with it and enjoy comparing the differences in driving between your home and this new one.

2. Always Listen to People Around You

There are a lot of things to consider when you move anywhere, whether that be to another state or abroad for studies. Start by listening to the advice of people who have already traveled and roomed away from home for a period of time. They will have personalized advice on how to handle the trials of foreign intricacies.

Ask your friends if they have ever driven somewhere when they leave the country and what place they went to. If they have been to the place you will be staying in, listen to how they handled the driving techniques and habits.

Americans tend to be angrier drivers, but road rage is an unfortunate human reaction that crosses all cultural divides. When you get to your place of study, try to ask other tourists or a travel guide how they handle the road, and be receptive to how you should interact with other drivers.

Don’t get angry or stressed if it feels like the local people are overwhelming you with information. Just as it takes great listening to become a solid student, use those same skills to become one with the new environment you will be driving in.  

3. Use a Vehicle That Is Familiar to You

Being out of your element is one of the scariest things when living in a foreign country for any amount of time. For students studying abroad, it is imperative to keep as many things familiar as possible.

Parents need to get creative in staying connected to their kids, and one of the pieces of advice they should give is for their students to choose a similar car to what is at home.

If you drive a sedan on your typical home excursions, it doesn’t make much sense to shake things up and rent a truck or SUV. Learning how to drive a new vehicle will do nothing but add more unnecessary stress when there is a lot of upheaval around you. Stick to what you know.

It may be tempting to take this as an opportunity to shake up your driving experience because you may get tired of driving the same car every day (who doesn’t?) If you are feeling this itch, at least choose a vehicle that drives fundamentally the same way. Don’t start using a stick shift when you have never driven that type of vehicle before.

Use Common Sense Wherever You Drive

It may seem intimidating to drive in another country, but as long as you are willing to learn about your new surroundings, there is no reason to overthink or fret.

Learn the new rules, remember the tried and true ones, and stay true to the cars and habits that made you a good driver back home. All of these things will see you having fun and staying safe. Common sense should take over if you care about reasonable driving habits and want to make the unfamiliar a little less foreign.