Table 1.

Road traffic injury risks and recommendations to avoid them for travelers from high-income countries going to low- and middle-income countries.

Risk	Recommendations to avoid risk
Lack of seatbelts, child safety seats and airbags	▪Select vehicles with seatbelts and wear them ▪If traveling with children, bring a child safety seat or booster seat ▪Ride as a back passenger when able ▪Rent vehicles with airbags if given the option
Travel when visibility or traction is limited is particularly dangerous, compounded by infrequent maintenance on vehicle components (e.g. lights, brakes, windshield wipers)	▪Avoid traveling at night or in the fog, rain or snow ▪Avoid riding on overcrowded and overweight vehicles (e.g. minibuses, trucks), particularly in these conditions, which have a difficult time avoiding sudden hazards
Lack of signage or signage in a foreign language	▪Drive with vigilance and caution ▪Do not react aggressively to other drivers’ errors ▪Learn common signage prior to travel to avoid injury, putting others at risk or breaking laws
▪Operating or riding 2–3 wheeled vehicles is high-risk, as is being a bicyclist ▪Helmets are often unavailable	▪Avoid travel on 2–3 wheeled vehicles if at all possible ▪If planning to operate or ride a 2–3 wheeled vehicle or bicycle, bring a properly fitting and approved helmet
Alcohol use significantly increases the risk of RTI	▪Do not drive after consuming alcohol ▪Designate a driver before consuming alcohol
Pedestrians are often the most common road user injured in LMICs	▪Take particular caution when crossing roads and look both ways no matter the direction of traffic ▪Seek and use cross-walks if available when crossing streets ▪Avoid walking along the roadside, particularly during times of limited visibility (e.g. fog, night) ▪If driving, be especially cognizant of pedestrians and the risk you pose to them
Lack of emergency care	▪Know the emergency access telephone number for the area(s) being traveled ▪Have a means of communication should injury occur ▪Create an emergency plan before traveling at the destination