Traveling Safety Not Affected by the U.S. Government Shutdown

Traveling Safety Not Affected by the U.S. Government Shutdown

One of the few services the United States government offers that has not been touched by the current government shutdown is the travel warnings issued by the Department of State. With numerous websites shut down, luckily the powers that be deemed this website to be essential and travel warnings are updated as necessary. In fact, there have been eight new warnings since the beginning of October, a higher than average month.

Most people do not even consider taking a trip to many of the countries typically found on the Department of State’s list of travel warnings. However, many travelers may be surprised to learn that there are several Latin American countries on the list, including our neighbor to the south, Mexico. When neighboring countries make the list, it affects many more travelers than when the list contains only countries an ocean away.

The Real Risks

While the details of risks may differ slightly from country to country, those traveling in countries featured in travel warnings are at a high risk of being the victim of crime. This may include being one of many injured or killed in terrorist acts such as bombings, land-mine explosions, grenade attacks or gunfire. More personal risks include kidnapping, human trafficking, armed robbery, rape, carjacking, extortion, aggravated assault and even murder. While some of these are typical of foreign countries under war, others are risks you face in many American cities also.

Protecting Yourself

While you will hear advice like “use your common sense” in order to stay safe while on vacation, it takes more than common sense, especially if you are traveling to high risk areas. Some of the less common ways to stay safe while traveling include these tips.

-          Keep abreast of both local and international news.

-          Vary your schedule to minimize being targeted for violence.

-          Keep your vehicle locked at all times, including while driving.

-          Be aware of your surroundings.

-          Always travel with another person.

-          Avoid being on the streets after dark.

-          Stay away from demonstrations, political rallies and other crowded areas.

-          Stay in tourist areas and avoid the temptation to see how regular people live in that country.

-          Don’t use public transportation. The most secure way to travel is typically via radio-dispatched taxi cabs.

-          Do not display or carry large amounts of cash. Hide credit and ATM cards.

-          Do not wear jewelry.

-          Get a cursory understanding of the language before you go. The Internet puts language resources at your fingertips, so use them.

-          Enroll in the U.S. government’s travel program entitled STEP – Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It provides valuable updates and resources for you in case of trouble overseas.

-          Plan to regularly stay in contact with someone at home. If he hasn’t heard from you within a designated time period and efforts to reach you are unsuccessful, he can alert the embassy in the country you are visiting on your behalf.

While At Home

Your home is an important part of your personal safety. If you become the victim of a robbery at home while on vacation, the feeling of being violated and powerless will take all the joy out of your vacation. Before you leave home, ensure that it is properly prepared, so that you have minimized the risk of burglary in your absence.

Use your home security system if you have one. Many of the better ones today come with home automation that lets you create a lighting schedule to simulate your presence at home. Consider a house sitter, especially if you have pets. Enlist a neighbor, friend or family member to ensure your home looks lived in. Things like removing flyers left in the driveway and cutting the grass will take care of any of those giveaways that the occupants are on vacation.

Preparation before you go and vigilance while you are away are the keys to preserving your personal safety while on vacation. Knowledge truly is the best tool you can have.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Tuesday October 15 2013, 6:14 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0