Travelling safely

Here are some top tips for hassle free safe travel in the UK and abroad:

• Tell somebody where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
• Remember your mobile, or make sure you have coins for a public phone.
• Check the times of buses or trains for both your outward and return journey.
• Take enough money for fares, accommodation, entrance tickets, food and drink.
• Take water if you are going to be away from shops or cafes.
• Check the weather forecast and take suitable clothing and sunscreen if necessary.

Visit Study Stay for loads more information about keeping safe both at home and abroad.

Travelling abroad

Here are some tips to help you plan a trip abroad.

• Visit Go Gap Year - for essential advice for gap year travellers and general advice about travelling abroad.
• Find out about the country you are visiting. Check out the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website.
• Do you need a visa? Many countries outside of Europe require one. For more info, check out the visa section on Youth Information.
• If you are travelling to a European Economic Area or Switzerland with a·European Health Insurance Card you can get free or reduced cost treatment. This card replaced the E111 (which is no longer valid) and you can apply for it online from the Dept of Health.
• You should find out where the British Embassy or Consulate is in the country you are visiting. If you lose your passport, run into problems with the police or have any other trouble, they will be able to help you.
• Let people know your travel schedule and ways to contact you if there is an emergency at home.
• Make copies of your passport, visas, insurance and tickets and leave a copy at home.
• Plan your budget and give yourself a bit extra for emergencies.
• While your bank card will work in many countries, it is a good idea to carry some cash, traveller's cheques and a credit card as well.
• Keep your money, traveller’s cheques and passport in a money bag out of view.
• Don’t hitchhike. It isn’t safe anywhere – even if you’re with a friend, you’re still taking a risk.

Travelling if you are disabled

To make sure you get to your destination safely and quickly some planning is needed – especially when using public transport and travelling alone. If you have a disability, do a bit of extra checking. Make sure the services are accessible and you can get all the information you need if you have a sensory impairment.

Be prepared….

Plan all aspects of your trip. If you are travelling in the local area make sure the transport you will be using has all the facilities you will require and is accessible.

If you are travelling further distances, plan your journey at least two days in advance so that you are guaranteed an appropriate seat.

Wessex DriveAbility

Wessex DriveAbility (formerly Southampton Mobility Centre) is a charitable organisation, devoted to assisting people of all ages with disabilities and medical conditions. Their aim is to enable individuals to drive or travel as a passenger in order to maintain an independent lifestyle.

Driving

Young drivers can claim £75 towards Pass Plus by registering with Hampshire County Council.

Find out more about Pass Plus.

Have a look at the information below to help you prepare for the world of motoring.

Driving and the law

• At 14 you can ride an electronically powered cycle.
• At 16 you can ride a moped up to 50cc, a mowing machine and small tractor.
• At 17 you can drive a car, a motorcycle, a large tractor and a van up to 3.5 tons.
• At 18 you can drive a van or lorry up to 7.5 tons.
• At 21 you can drive all other vehicles, but remember, many car and minibus hire firms ask for drivers to be at least 21, 23 or 25.
• Before driving any vehicle, you must have a provisional or full licence.
• As a learner, you must display red L-plates and be supervised by someone who has held a licence for a minimum of 3 years and who is at least 21.
• Learner drivers cannot ride or drive on a motorway.
• You cannot book the practical driving test until you have passed the theory test – you have 2 years to pass the practical test after you have taken the theory.
• After passing your practical driving test, you need to display green L-plates for 6 months.
• It is illegal to drive a vehicle without an MOT certificate, car insurance and a tax disc.
• If you get 6 penalty points on your licence in the first 2 years after passing your test, you will automatically lose your licence.

Learning to drive

Firstly you’ll need to get a provisional licence from the Driving Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA). You can get the application form (D1) from post offices. Don’t drive until your licence arrives and sign it as soon as you get it.

A provisional car licence is valid until you are 70 but a provisional motorbike licence is only valid for 2 years. Check out the DVLA website for more information on applying for a licence, plus loads more driving information or ring them on 0870 240 0009.

It is best to take driving lessons with a qualified instructor. The instructor will know exactly what’s needed to get you through your test. The test is in 2 parts – theory and practical. The theory test is made up of 35 multiple-choice questions and a video hazard perception test. Find out more about the tests and book online at the Driving Standards Agency website.

Insurance, Tax and MOT

As well as having to buy your car or motorbike, you need to put aside cash for the insurance, tax and MOT.

If you drive, you must be insured. Shop around for the best deal or try out a price comparison site like confused.com, Gocompare.com, comparethemarket.com or Money Supermarket.

Your car or motorbike must have a valid tax disc at all times unless you have informed the DVLA that it is off the road. A tax disc for a car lasts either 6 months (£68.75-£104.50 for cars registered before 2001 based on engine size, and £66-£222.75 for cars registered after 2001 based on fuel type & CO2 emissions) or a year (£125-£190 for pre-2001 cars, and £35-£405 for post-2001 cars). For a motorcycle, it ranges from £15-£66 for a year. Tax discs are bought at main post offices or you can buy them online.

Like tax, MOT certificates last a year and all cars and motorbikes over 3 years old need to have one. It’s a way of proving that your vehicle is safe to be on the road. You would need to take your car to an MOT approved garage for the test but repairs, if required, do not need to be carried out at the same place. MOT’s cost about £50 for cars and £27 for motorbikes.

Drivers with disabiltiies can contact Wessex DriveAbility for advice and support.

Timetables

Need a bus, coach, train or ferry?

Check out the website links to the right for the most up-to-date information on timetables and fares in the local areas, or use the numbers below:

Public Transport Traveline

0871 200 22 33

Buses

• First Bus – 0870 010 6022
• Solent Blueline – 023 8061 8233
• Stagecoach – 0845 121 0180
• Southern Vectis – 01983 532373
• Wilts & Dorset - 01202 673555 or 01722 336855
• Southampton Uni-Link - 023 8059 5974

Coaches

• National Express - 08705 80 80 80
• Go-By-Coach - Database of coach companies

Trains

• National Rail Enquiries - 08457 48 49 50
• First Great Western - 08457 000 125
• Southeastern - 0845 000 2222
• South West Trains - 0845 6000 650
• Virgin Trains - 0870 789 1234

Ferries

• Wightlink – 0870 582 7744
• Red Funnel – 0870 444 8898
• Hovertravel – 01983 811000 or 023 9281 1000
• Hythe Ferry – 023 8084 0722
• Gosport Ferry - 023 9252 4551

Don’t forget, many of the companies do saver tickets or student fares so always ask if there are any offers on. If you travel regularly by train it’s worth applying for a Young Persons Railcard as it gives you a third off fares. It costs £20 for a year and you have to be aged 16-25. You can also get a Young Persons Coachcard from National Express if you are aged 16-26. This saves you up to 30% on coach fares for just £10 a year.

Travelling extras

There’s no doubt travelling abroad is great fun and can really broaden your horizons. Employers and Universities definitely like to see foreign travel on applications and CV’s, especially if you have worked, studied or volunteered overseas. But don’t forget the all-important things you need before you can get out of the country.

Passport

Everybody needs a passport to travel abroad. If you applied for a passport before Oct 1998, you may be on one of your parents' passports. This is still valid, but as soon as you reach 16 or the passport runs out, you will have to apply for your own passport.

If you're under 16, you need to apply for a child passport which will be valid for 5 years. This costs £45. If you're 16 or over, you must apply for the 10-year adult passport which costs £66. There is also a handling fee if you use the "Check & Send" service at a Post Office.

Make sure you apply in plenty of time before you are due to travel. You can pick up an application pack at the Post Office, apply online for your passport or you can ring 0870 521 0410, which is the 24hr Passport Adviceline.

Once you’ve got your passport, take a photocopy of the details page and keep it separate from your passport when you travel.

Visas

Many countries outside Europe require you to have a visa before you can go there. Ask your travel agent if you need a visa.

Make sure you apply way in advance as in some cases it can take a long time. You will always have to pay a fee and sometimes you may have to go to the nearest Embassy (usually in London) to collect your visa in person. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives details of foreign embassies in the UK, it will also make recommendations about countries that are dangerous to travel to, so do check this out before you apply for a visa.

Youth Information has lots of useful info & contacts on visas.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are travelling within a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you are entitled to free or reduced-cost medical care if you become ill or have an accident. To get this treatment you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The E111 form is no longer valid.

You can get an application form free of charge from your nearest Post Office, phone 0845 606 2030, or apply online for you EHIC card. In order to apply, make sure you have your NHS or National Insurance Number to hand.

Insurance

Even if you have an EHIC, you will need to take out travel insurance before you go abroad. This will cover you if you lose your luggage, have something stolen or have an accident. STA Travel specialises in travel for students and young people and their website has a good section on insurance, with competitive prices. Do shop around for quotes though either from specialist travel insurance companies like Travel Insurance, Insure & Go and Travel Insurance Web. Or use a price comparison site like confused.com or Travel Supermarket.

Vaccinations

If you are travelling to countries further afield, you may well have to have some injections before you go. These will protect you from diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, yellow fever, malaria, tetanus and rabies. Check with your doctor in plenty of time for what you might need as some injections need to be given several weeks in advance. There’s loads of information about health and travel on the Travel Doctor website opposite.