Traveling and road safety within the Caribbean Islands – helpful tips to stay you safe

More than thirty million individuals visit the Caribbean every ear and permanently reason. These islands area unit thought-about dream destinations with nice year-round whether or not, unbelievable beaches, breath-taking landscapes and a singular fusion of vivacious cultures. From the luxurious and picturesque Bahama Islands to the scenic beaches of St. Barts and also the turquoise waters of Anguilla, every island offers travelers its own explicit expertise and attractiveness.

And many tourists United Nations agency area unit designing a visit to the Caribbean, notably people who have an interest in freelance travel, like better to rent a vehicle so as to higher explore the environment. however, traveling and road safety within the Caribbean islands are often awfully completely different expertise from what you’re wont to back home. Of course, road safety may be a sensitive issue all across the world not solely on these tropical islands. in line with the foremost recent world standing report on road safety from the United Nations agency, quite one.30 million individuals lose their lives annually in automobile crashes worldwide. which variety has been slowly increasing since 2001.

But this doesn’t mean that road safety is a problem all told of the Caribbean islands. As a matter of truth, in several destinations like Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles, driving conditions area unit virtually constant as in any community from the North American nation or Europe, however with a couple of quirks:

As in several places of the Caribbean, drivers will guide or maybe stop within the middle of the road while not indicating. This typically happens if they spot a fan walking by, thus leaving lots of space from the automobile before of you, significantly in cities and jam-packed areas.

Another factor that may cause issues is that the aspect of the road folks drives on. several of the islands use English vogue, which suggests cars drive on the left-hand aspect of the road. Such destinations embody Anguilla, Antigua, an island, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British island, island, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, island and island, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and also the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Island, and the U.S. island.

Some Caribbean automobile rentals provide tourists vehicles with steering wheels for each the left and right seat, but others provide solely vehicles with the steering wheels on the left. this might take it slow to urge won't to, particularly if driving is additionally on the left-hand aspect of the road.

In order to rent an automobile you may want a sound driver’s license. counting on the island, you would possibly be ready to use your own, be needed to own a world driver’s license or to buy a short-lived driving allow for any low fee.

Many times Caribbean lease companies will need a minimum age for the driving force. this may vary slightly from island to island however it’s typically twenty-five years.

The roads area unit largely made-up and safe to drive however once more, it all depends on the island and also the location of the road thereon specific island. you're expected to encounter the same old potholes from time to time, steeper hills, unsmooth conditions, and even neighborhood dogs that wish to sleep or wander the shoulder areas of the roads.

Turning right or left on a red lightweight – counting on the aspect of the road folks drive on – is commonly prohibited on several Caribbean Islands, despite locals doing it all the time. U-turns also are prohibited on some islands, thus certify you totally perceive specific traffic laws before you rent an automobile.

Extra insurance is additionally one thing you would possibly have to be compelled to take into account once transaction an automobile within the Caribbean. insurance is typically coated by the rental company fee and also the level is typically thought of acceptable. but coverage of the particular rental vehicle itself that’s a completely totally different story. you'll choose a collision injury release or use a significant {credit automobiled|mastercard} to rent the vehicle and cash in of the total coverage these firms provide just in case your car is broken or purloined.