Posted on July 09, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

 

The British Foreign Office has issued a warning to holidaymakers urging them to be on the lookout for  “highway pirates” while on driving holidays abroad.  Sadly, they’re not talking Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. 

According to research from its Steer Clear campaign, two thirds of Brits over 55 run into trouble on the roads around the world through getting lost, driving on the wrong side of the road and getting mugged. 

Commenting on the findings, a spokesman said:

“Crime can be a real issue with a growing number of British motorists, particularly those towing caravans, being targeted by ‘highway pirates’ and losing their valuables in a ‘motorway mugging’.

“Almost three quarters of over 55s wouldn’t be prepared in an emergency as they don’t carry telephone numbers for local emergency services, breakdown services or the local British Consulate.”

Car Hire Road Trip Safety

You’ve collected the hire car, you’ve got your itinerary sorted, but wait- before you get your motor running, there are still some essential checks that need to be carried out.  At Argus Car Hire customer safety is our priority and we want you to have the best possible rental car adventure.  For this reason, we strongly advise you to perform the following safety checks before hitting the open road:

Luggage:

· Ensure that the load is balanced-this means heavy items should be placed as near to the centre of the car as possible.  (Heavy, clumsy items should never be concentrated on one side of the vehicle).

· Luggage shouldn’t impede the driver’s vision or prevent seatbelts from being used.

· Remember: Loose or heavy items stowed in the passenger compartment can move under braking or cornering.  This can be distracting to the driver or jam against controls.  It’s important to ensure that all bags, luggage and potentially damaging items are properly stowed.

Roof Racks:

· Roof racks should be firmly loaded, at the lowest height possible to avoid wind resistance and maintain stability.
· Ensure every item on the roof rack is safely and securely tied down.

Driving in the Countryside:

At Argus, we know that the countryside offers some of the best and most scenic driving experiences.  However, we’d also like to point out the need for extra vigilance, especially to those used to driving in the city only.  Travelling through the countryside you’ll encounter all manner of trying situations, some of which may be unfamiliar.  In these instances, patience really is a virtue!

· Farm animals must be treated with consideration
· On approaching a herd, slow down well in advance and leave as much space as possible between driver and herd.
· When overtaking a horse and rider, manoeuvre the car as slowly as possible, leaving as much space as feasible between it and its rider.

Driving in the EU:

When travelling with Spain car hire, France car hire, Portugal car hire and Italy car hire you’ll find certain  laws apply to driver safety.   Please check for the following before leaving your pick-up location.  Under EU legislation, your car should be equipped with the following:

· Two EU approved red warning triangles

· Approved reflective jackets.  In the case of a breakdown, all outside of the car must wear these at any time, day or night. 

· A set of spare lamps/bulbs for your car should also be supplied as well as the tools needed to change them.