One of the scariest taxi rides I’ve had was in Xian, China, with a chain-smoking driver who not only preferred looking at me instead of the road, but also enjoyed simultaneously accelerating into jam-packed intersections. But what really got me was that when I buckled my seat belt, it imprinted a wide diagonal line of dust and grime across my shirt. The belt hadn’t been used in years. I was reminded of that crazy driver and unused belt—and the many taxis I’ve ridden in abroad that didn’t even have belts—as I read a new AP report reiterating what many travelers already know: One of the biggest dangers travelers face abroad is a vehicle accident.

The story cited a non-profit’s report that 741 U.S. citizens were killed in traffic accidents abroad from 2004-2006. That means road accidents were responsible for one-third of all American deaths reported overseas. So how to stay safe? The Association for Safe International Road Travel offers tips to travelers. Among them:

* Avoid traveling at night in countries with hazardous terrain or poor safety records

* Contact your embassy for local safety information

* Insist that a driver drive responsibly and be prepared to safely exit the vehicle if he or she refuses

* And yes, ride only in taxis with working seat belts

These are just a start. See the organization’s Web page for more tips.

Photo by jolli...... via Flickr, (Creative Commons).