Accidents and Travel

Travellers are much more likely to die or be injured than to be sick with an exotic disease. Travellers in the age group 15-44 are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from injuries overseas than in the same group in high-income countries like Australia. Most deaths result from motor vehicle accidents. This should not come as a surprise as world-wide more than a million people die annually from road trauma with more than 50 million injured.

Over 90% of the global motor vehicle crash deaths occur in lower income countries despite having just 50% of the vehicles. We measure the road fatality rate as death rate per 100,000 population. The rate in Australia is under 5. In India almost 16, and in Vietnam 30. These are likely underestimates. Travellers must carefully consider their means of travel in many places around the world.

According to British Airport Authority statistics air travel is 2,200 times safer than cycling, 165 times safer than car and 27 times safer than train travel.

• Motor cyclists not wearing helmets
• Driving without seatbelts (often not fitted in car)
• Alcohol and other drugs
• Speed
• Poor roads
• Poor vehicular maintenance
• Non enforcement of road rules
• Poor signage
• Animals on roads
• Poor access to medical care

• Drowning
• Falls
• High altitude
• Violence
• Wild animals (hippopotami, lions etc)
• Poisoning eg ciguatera

An accident can happen at any time and often the individual has no control over the subsequent events. Having adequate TRAVEL INSURANCE is vital in this situation. Travelling without travel insurance may have major consequences if life-saving medical expenses must be paid by other family members.