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Title – Guatemala bus crash kills dozens
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 3rd March 2008
Transport options in-country are sometimes limited and local options are sometime the only ones available and can be a great way to see the country from a new perspective, to meet new people and a to experience a way of life so alien from that we are used to at home.
But these experiences do unfortunately carry additional risk and in many ‘developing countries’ tragedies like this one in Guatemala are not altogether rare occurrences, more alarmingly when accidents do happen they often end in a great loss of life or serious injuries.
It is a risk of travel that we sometimes have, to a degree, to accept or avoid altogether. Emerging economies and poorer countries inevitably can not always manage the costs involved with the tight regulation we have in our transport networks, that have made them progressively safer. Without this regulation and yet having to supply these services to a poor population, means that in some countries quality tends to win over quality.
However we must remember that in many countries bus and boat journeys are the only way people can get about effectively and allows them to move from rural areas to urban ones to work and trade and to move between countries for the same reasons.
The risks need therefore to be put into some perspective. Is a bus journey in Guatemala less safe than one in the UK? Almost without doubt. Does that make a bus journey in Guatemala inherently dangerous? No, it means there is added risk as there is in almost anything we undertake, but it can be managed.
Understanding some simple signs to look for, asking some simple questions, collecting local information and getting local recommendation will all enable you to reduce the risks this or any type of travel involves. Having the courage to change your plans when certain answers you get to your questions suggest you should or when you see something you are uncomfortable with sounds easy, but can be remarkably difficult to make when you are put on the spot.
Consider the consequences before you make your choice, it’s not always simple to do and many travellers have opted instead to take the chance and hope for the best… it’s never worth it when put into context.
Our workshops will help you to put things into context, help you see beyond the obvious and help you to stop things happening out of the blue, as they rarely do if you know what to look for; we can help you see beyond the blue.
Please visit our website at
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