So many people travel by car each day that it can be easy to forget that some additional precautions should be taken when you’re traveling a long distance in your car. Especially if you’re traveling by car in a foreign country, there are a few safety tips you should take under advisement to ensure you’re not one of the thousands of people who die as a result of a car accident while in a different country. So to help you make your car travels as safe as possible, here are three road safety tips to remember while traveling.

Be Careful With Stowed Items

When you’re just driving around your hometown, you likely don’t have a lot of items stowed in your car. But once you’ve hit the road to travel, your car is now suddenly packed with items to use while you’re away from home. And while you might not think this could present a dangerous problem, Monica Bernstein and Ingela Ratledge, contributors to Parents.com, remind us that items not properly tied down could quickly become deadly projectiles in the event of a car accident. For this reason, keep your heavy items low in the seats so as to not fall on someone. Also, anything that’s out in a cargo area should be strapped down when not in use to keep it in one place while the car is moving.

Avoid Distracted Driving

One of the biggest causes for car accidents can be attributed to distracted driving. While using your phone while driving has become a topic of concern in recent years, there are plenty of other things that can cause you to be distracted while on the road. To best avoid these things, Yahoo! Travel recommends to the readers of MentalFloss.com that you take the time to be prepared before you even start your car. Get anything you may need during your drive and keep it at arm’s distance so it’s easy to reach. Put your phone away, set up your GPS, and pick your music before you start driving. And if you have other passengers, make sure they’re otherwise distracted so as to not distract you too much.

Staying Safe In Foreign Countries

Driving in an unknown area can be even more dangerous than driving in your own country. Because you’re unfamiliar with the area and the rules of the road, it’s important to take extra precautions. The CDC advises that travelers always wear their seatbelts and try not to be on the roads at night. Also, avoid riding on motorcycles or public transit that is overcrowded. Travelers additionally should only drive if they know the rules and regulations and are legally and lawfully certified to be doing so in a different country.

If you’re taking a car trip soon, use the tips mentioned above to help you be safe on the road.