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Safety and Security Abroad
Being a stranger in another country can make you a more likely victim of crime, accidents or illness. There are precautions that travelers abroad can take to maximize their safety and minimize their risks. The following sections offer suggestions and resources to ensure you are prepared for the most common safety concerns.
Travel Advisories
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories. Before you go, be sure to assess the potential safety and health risks in the countries where you intend to travel. The best source for this information is the U.S. Department of State, which issues travel advisories for all countries. For current information, travel advisories, warnings and emergency assistance, see the U.S. Department of State web site.
The government's U.S. Department of State monitors political conditions in every country of the world. It issues Travel Advisories in three categories which are listed below in decreasing order of the degree of warning to travelers:
| Travel Warnings | Issued when the Department of State decides to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. |
| Public Announcements | Offer information about terrorist threats, epidemics, and other relatively short-term or transnational conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. |
| Consular Information Sheets | Available for every country of the world. They include information such as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. |
Travel advisories issued by other governments can
be found in Selected Travel Abroad Web Sites, Safety
Abroad section.
Safety and Security Tips
The following list contains many useful do's and
don'ts to follow when studying, working and traveling
abroad. Also, see the Selected Travel
Abroad Web Sites, Health and Safety Additional Resources section.
- Leave your travel itinerary with family, friends, and/or program directors. Make sure your family, the resident director, host family, foreign university official or workplace supervisor who is assigned responsibility for your welfare always knows where and how to contact you in an emergency.
- Members of the University of Michigan community should register their itinerary at U-M ITOC.
- If you will be staying in one place for more than a few days, or will be traveling to remote areas, register with the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. See the U.S. Department of State web site for online registration.
- Report to the responsible authorities suspicious persons following you or loitering around where you live, study or work. Keep your residence area locked. Use common sense in divulging information to strangers about where you live, study or work, or your travel itinerary.
- Keep a low profile and try not to stand out by dress, speech, or behavior. Do not draw attention to yourself through expensive dress, conspicuous display of personal accessories or careless behavior.
- Do not impair your judgment through excessive consumption of alcohol. This is one of the main causes of accidents and imprisonment of Americans abroad.
- Do not use illegal drugs (even if openly available and even in apparently liberal countries), for which there may be penalties ranging from long prison terms to capital punishment.
- Americans abroad are subject to the laws of the
foreign countries they are visiting which may differ
dramatically from those of the U.S.
in matters such as narcotics, alcohol, free speech,
etc. Americans abroad are not protected by U.S.
laws or by virtue of being a U.S.
citizen. Employment abroad is illegal unless you
have a special work permit arranged before entering
the country (see the U-M International Center web site for options). See the U.S.
Department of State web site for more information
about what they can and cannot do to help U.S.
citizens.
- Female travelers are more likely to encounter harassment, but uncomfortable situations can often be avoided by taking the following precautions. Dress conservatively. Avoid walking alone late at night or in questionable neighborhoods. Do not agree to meet someone you do not know in a secluded place. Be aware that some men from other countries tend to mistake the friendliness of American women for romantic interest.
- Use banks to exchange money. Do not exchange it on the black market. Do not carry more money than you need for the day. Put most of your money in a very safe place such as a money belt. Always have multiple forms of money, like cash, travelers checks, ATM and credit cards.
- Avoid crowds, protest groups, or other potentially volatile situations, as well as restaurants and entertainment places where Americans and other foreign tourists are known to congregate.
- Keep abreast of local news. Read newspapers. English-language papers such as the Herald Tribune are widely available if the local language is not English. Check with the U.S. Embassy or speak with local officials to learn about any potential civil unrest. In the event of disturbances, do not get involved.
- Be wary of unexpected packages and stay clear of unattended luggage or parcels in airports, train stations, and other areas of uncontrolled public access.
Safe Road Travel
Driving rules and customs may vary shockingly from those of the U.S. Pedestrians may not be given the right of way. Some roads may be unsafe anytime and dangerous at night, especially in less-developed countries. Inquire about the safety record of various modes of transportation. Avoid renting a car unless you feel very comfortable with the driving habits of the locals.
For more information on international road travel contact:
Association for Safe International Road Travel
5413 West Cedar Lane, Suite 103C
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.983.5252 Fax 301.983.3663
Last reviewed: 5/07
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