Traveling by road for study abroad students could potentially be hazardous, specialists caution

Traveling by road for overseas students can pose risks, according to specialists.

In the world of international education, safety is a top priority. With the upcoming release of the latest Student Risk Report in early 2026, students and parents can expect to find country-level data for the 25 most common education abroad destinations.

The report, led by Dr. Amelia J. Dietrich, senior director for research & publications at The Forum on Education Abroad, aims to shed light on the often overlooked risk of road accidents. Road crashes are among the single greatest risks for healthy travelers abroad, according to the U.S. Department of State.

To help students navigate the roads safely, the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) offers a wealth of resources. Their key message is simple: "know before you go." This means researching and becoming familiar with the safest transportation options and routes, vetting local drivers or transportation services, learning local road culture, and understanding when the roads are busiest or darkest, particularly in mountainous areas or in countries with poor road safety records.

ASIRT publishes a quarterly newsletter, On the Road with ASIRT, providing tips and road safety news. They also offer Road Safety Reviews for more than 100 countries, providing comprehensive information about road conditions, transport options, safe routes, and local driver behaviors.

Road crashes are predictable and preventable. An informed traveler is the safer traveler. Unfortunately, students and parents often do not consider road safety when planning, with perceived risks like terrorism, kidnapping, and disease being more prominent in their minds.

However, efforts are being made to change this. Many institutions now inform their travelers of road risks through pre-and post-departure and onsite orientations, web pages dedicated to travel abroad, and resources for parents. PULSE International, an organisation formed by risk managers in higher education, addresses issues related to higher education and shares best practices.

The Forum on Education Abroad offers a variety of professional development programs and resources to help international educators stay informed of best practices in risk management and student safety. They also publish standards and best practices for study abroad professionals, and host conferences that address health and safety.

For those studying abroad, the Forum's Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad can help students and families identify important questions to ask when making decisions about studying abroad. The U.S. Department of State suggests that travelers complete a checklist, which includes registering for the STEP program.

For more information about safe international road travel, click here. The GEBG, now branded as the Institute for Global Learning, offers similar programs and resources for k-12 schools.

In the past two years, the Student Risk Report collected information about serious incidents among 134,783 students in 121 countries. Globally, 2,438 students (or 1 in 65) experienced one of the incidents tracked. This underscores the importance of road safety education and resources for students and travelers abroad.

Remember, being informed and prepared is the best way to stay safe on the roads. So, before you embark on your journey, do your research and stay safe.