Haiti Guide: Safety tips for car travel in Haiti

After a recent incident where friends of mine were robbed at gunpoint in their car in Port-au-Prince, I thought it could be useful to share some tips and tricks I have learned over the years about traveling by car in Port-au-Prince / Haiti / "dangerous" areas. I am sure there is much more advice that can be given, so please feel free to add on in the comment section below. Safe travels!

PLAN AND ACT ACCORDINGLY

1. Avoid unnecessary travel to reduce chance of something occurring (take a charter flight if possible)
2. Use an experienced driver who knows alternative routes and which areas to avoid
3. Check your contacts / resources about the status of the roads before you travel (pro tip: Keep the radio on in the car, listening to a station that provides ongoing news updates)
4. Travel with a local who knows the area well and can potentially help deescalate / negotiate through a bad situation
5. Try to avoid travel in known traffic areas during rush hour to reduce chance of being stuck in traffic, a vulnerable position
6. Avoid travel at night
7. Travel with emergency cash, enough to re-fill your gas tank and stay at a hotel if needed
8. If traveling with goods / merchandise, ensure they are covered and/or out of site
9. Keep doors locked at all times (pro tip: If you are traveling through a bad area and you realize that your door is unlocked, lock it in an “quiet” way, i.e. resting your elbow on the window and locking the door with your elbow)
10. Minimize / avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash at the bank (there have been incidents where “informants” inside banks notify robbers of people who withdrawal larges amount of money and then they are promptly robbed when travelling away from the bank)

HAVE A GOOD VEHICLE

11. Use a reliable vehicle with 4x4 capability / high clearance and the ability to quickly drive away
12. Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before entering congested / bad areas to avoid having to get fuel at an inconvenient time or location
13. Ensure your vehicle has good tires to reduce chance of a flat tire and having sit idle on the side of the road while changing a flat tire, a vulnerable position
14. Try to have tints on windows to make it difficult to know who or what is inside (special authorization by the police is need for this in Haiti)

PROTECT YOURSELF

15. Minimize the amount of cash you travel with
16. Store cash and valuables in multiple locations on you and in the car
17. Do not wear valuables or items that appear to be valuable, i.e. watches, jewelry, suit, etc.
18. Stay off your cell phone (pro tip: If you must be on your phone, make sure your windows are up and the phone is on the side of you furthest away from the window)
19. Travel with an old cell phone and fake wallet to be able to give them away in the event of a robbery
20. If robbed, comply with the robbers, DO NOT RESIST as people have been shot and killed this way.


I am sure there are more tips, so please feel free to share your ideas and improve mine!

*Disclaimer: By no means is this an exhaustive guide that will provide you with 100% safety. Remember that when you travel, you do so at your own risk.

Be safe and travel well!