Traveling to another country to study can be an important part of the college educational experience, but an increasing number of Americans are now choosing to head to less-developed regions of the world, where traffic fatalities are most prevalent. More than 90 % of road crash deaths globally occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Road safety experts are quick to point out the importance and value of studying abroad, but stress that it is critical for students and sponsors of overseas programs to understand the dangers and guard against the risks – before they go.
Rochelle Sobel, founder and president of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), a nonprofit based in the United States, along with colleagues Cathy Silberman and Gayle Nadler, answered a few questions to help prepare students.
Why is it particularly important to know about road safety when traveling abroad?
Generally, travelers tend to assume that road conditions, signage, vehicle options and conditions, and drivers are similar to those in their home countries. Statistically, according to the U.S. Department of State, road crashes are among the single greatest risks for healthy travelers abroad. Yet, travelers are unaware of this and therefore do not seek information and plan itineraries accordingly prior to departure.
Students specifically are at risk because they are natural risk takers and road crashes are the greatest risk for young people ages 5-28, according to the WHO. Usually, students are unfamiliar with roads and laws in unfamiliar destinations and may not be prepared to make safe road travel decisions.
Do students and parents typically think about road safety when they are planning? If not, what are the main challenges to change that?
Risks on the road are often not on the radar of students or parents in the planning process. Perceived risks for all travelers including terrorism, kidnapping, and disease actually occur less frequently than road injuries.
Some study abroad programs do not take road safety into consideration to the extent that they should. Students have opportunities to travel on their own, outside of their established programs, where they may have to make informed travel decisions. Planning ahead and recognizing risks are important for students, faculty, and administrators.
In 2016 I wrote Study-Abroad Programs Address a Risk: Road Fatalities, including a sidebar on Tips for avoiding dangerous incidents for The New York Times. At that time, some colleges and universities and study abroad programs were just beginning to take a more active role in preparing their students, but it wasn’t widespread. Has the environment improved since then?
Many institutions are doing a good job of informing their travelers of road risks. They have pre-and post-departure and onsite orientations, web pages dedicated to travel abroad, and resources for parents. Risk managers in higher education formed PULSE International, an organization comprised of health, safety, and security professionals who address issues related to higher education and share best practices. The Forum for Education Abroad publishes standards and best practices for study abroad professionals, as well as hosting conferences that address health and safety. The GEBG, newly branded as the Institute for Global Learning, offers similar programs and resources for k-12 schools.
And the U.S. Department of State suggests that travelers complete a checklist. Included in the checklist is registering for the STEP program.
What kinds of services and resources does ASIRT provide?
ASIRT offers Road Safety Reviews (RSR) for more than 100 countries. Each 4-6 page report includes comprehensive, country-specific information about road conditions, transport options, safe routes, and local driver behaviors. Free sample reports are available. Corporations, nonprofits and NGOs, and schools can contract with ASIRT for reports that are specific to their travelers’ needs. ASIRT also publishes a quarterly newsletter, On the Road with ASIRT, that provides tips and road safety news.
ASIRT asked Amelia J. Dietrich, senior director for research & publications, and managing editor of “Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad” at The Forum on Education Abroad, to answer the following two questions. Dr. Dietrich also leads the Student Risk Report initiative, a yearly report that compiles data on injuries and fatalities that happen to American students who study abroad.
Is the number of American students who die or are seriously injured in vehicle crashes abroad tracked?
Dr. Dietrich: We track serious incidents including injuries, illnesses, and crimes that happen to individual students while studying abroad and can interrupt participation in their education. We also track incidents that disrupt education abroad at the program level, such as vehicle crashes or natural disasters. During the calendar years 2023 and 2024, we collected information about serious incidents occurring among the 134,783 students who studied abroad in 121 different countries with programs operated by our reporting institutions. Globally, 2,438 students (or 1 in 65) experienced one of the incidents we track during the two-year period. The report also provides country-level data for the 25 most common education abroad destinations. We are currently in the third year of data collection for this report and will publish the latest update in early 2026.
What other services does your organization provide to students and families?
Dr. Dietrich: The Forum offers a variety of professional development programs, training and resources that help international educators stay informed of best practices in risk management and supporting student safety and well being. Students and families considering study abroad can refer to our Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad to identify what questions they should be asking themselves and their program providers when making decisions about studying abroad.
What’s the most important message that ASIRT wants to send to students?
The key to mitigating risk on the roads abroad is to “know before you go.” Research and become familiar with the safest transportation options and routes to take. Consider vetting local drivers or transportation services, rather than driving. Learn local road culture (example: crosswalks and crossing lights may be present, but do drivers pay attention to them?) and when the roads are busiest or darkest, particularly in mountainous areas or in countries with poor road safety records.
Road crashes are predictable and preventable. An informed traveler is the safer traveler.
For more information about safe international road travel, click here.