8 Travel Safety Tips You Ignore That Are Actually Extremely Important

No one expects to experience a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other emergency while they're abroad. But if you do, you'll want to be prepared. Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before you leave, and the nearest U.S. Embassy will easily be able to find and help you if something bad happens (either abroad or back home, like a family emergency).

You should also leave an itinerary with a trusted friend or family member back home. That way, if you don't return they'll know exactly where to begin the search, instead of trying to piece together your steps through social media postings. This can also be helpful if you have a family member that worries when you travel—if they hear of something bad happening in the general region that you're traveling, they can double-check that you're not actually near there.


Related Link: What to Do in an Emergency Situation Abroad

It seems like a hassle to make a copy of your passport, but if yours gets stolen or lost while abroad, you'll be really glad that you took the extra 10 seconds to do it. If you don't want to carry paper around, you can also scan your passport and e-mail it to yourself, so you'll be able to access it anywhere.

I know I’m guilty of this -- whenever I'm bored on the subway or bus, I usually turn to my phone for entertainment. Unfortunately, having your phone out makes you a target for petty thieves, especially on crowded public transit. It's easy for criminals to snatch your phone out of your hand and jump off at the next stop if you're not paying attention.


More Helpful Tips: 7 Genius Ways to Hide Valuables While Traveling

When in a foreign destination, you might be tempted to be a little more lax than at home when it comes to wearing your seatbelt or taking a scooter out for a spin. In fact, the most common cause of death for Americans abroad is traffic accidents. So be careful: Insist on a taxi that has seatbelts (even in the backseat), don't drive yourself if you're not comfortable with the roads (especially if you're driving on a different side than at home), and always wear a helmet while on a scooter/moped/motorcycle/bike.


Related Link: 6 Roads Around the World That Are More Dangerous Than You Think

We've been conditioned since we were kids to dial 911 in case of an emergency, but if you dial those three numbers while abroad, you're not likely to get any help. Learn the local emergency numbers for police/fire/EMS (in some countries, these are all different numbers) and save them to your phone (if your phone will work at your destination). In a dangerous situation, every second counts.


Related Link: This Secret iPhone App Could Save Your Life

It can be tempting to unbuckle when the seatbelt sign is off (or even when it's on) just to get a little more comfortable in your tiny airplane seat. But if turbulence strikes, you could be seriously injured when you're not securely strapped in, as these passengers recently learned.


You Might Also Like: What's Really Happening When Your Flight Experiences Turbulence

The U.S. State Department’s cautions, warnings, and advisories can seem a little alarmist sometimes. (Just look at the current worldwide caution, for example.) And I'm not saying you should cancel your trip based on a warning/alert/advisory for a destination, but it is important to at least read them so you know what to look out for. (Confused about the difference between alerts and warnings? Read this.)


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  Read the original story: 8 Travel Safety Tips You Probably Ignore (But Shouldn't) by Caroline Morse, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.