Cheap car hire in Togo - Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

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Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Togo is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor

Urban roads are generally paved, but driving conditions are hazardous due to the presence of pedestrians and livestock on the roadways. Overland travel off the main network of roads generally requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Poorly marked, armed checkpoints, often manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Nighttime travel on unfamiliar roads is dangerous. Banditry, including demands for bribes at checkpoints, has been reported on major inter-city highways, including the Lome-Cotonou coastal highway. The presence of many small motorbikes and poorly maintained vehicles adds to the danger of driving in Togo. Travelers are advised to be aware of their surroundings, and drive defensively.

Americans should also be aware of the possibility of staged accidents when driving in Lome. Motorbikes have been known to cut in front of a vehicle, cause a collision, and draw a crowd, which can turn hostile if you attempt to leave the scene of the so-called accident. Such encounters appear designed to extort money from the vehicle driver. Pedestrians can also cause staged accidents. Travelers should drive with their car doors locked and windows closed, and have a radio or cell phone in the vehicle. If you are involved in this kind of accident and can drive away, please leave the scene, drive to a safe location, and alert both the police and the U.S. Embassy.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road-safety.html.