ABTA has issued a warning to tourists to take care when driving abroad following a report from the Make Roads Safe campaign which claimed 25,000 tourists are killed on the roads each year.
While ABTA said that only ‘a very small proportion’ of the 60 million UK tourists who travel abroad are caught up in fatal road accidents, it urged holidaymakers to make themselves aware of local driving laws.
ABTA head of destinations and sustainability Nikki White said: "Many ABTA tour operators work closely with local companies providing transfers and car hire arrangements to operate appropriate safety standards and also with the Foreign Office to raise customer awareness on how to minimise potential risks as part of their “Know Before You Go” campaign.
“Know Before You Go” gives comprehensive and detailed advice on how to make your experience of foreign roads as safe as possible.
"However with 55% of UK holidaymakers travelling independently rather than with tour operators, action clearly needs to be taken by individual governments where required and customers research relevant local rules of the road before travelling."
ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators have drawn up a Code of Practice for transport providers, which members have distributed to suppliers.
By Linsey McNeill
