Here's the good news about driving in Russia: You won't be doing it yourself.

Here's the bad news about driving in Russia: You won't be doing it yourself.

When I say this, I mean absolutely no disrespect to the wonderful drivers who helped me on my two adoption journeys. But there is something unsettling about being a backseat passenger on unfamiliar roads, especially when the roads are covered with potholes and you are traveling them at high speed. And even if that sounds like a cab ride in New York City, you probably haven't done it jet-lagged and under stress.

Even Russian's Ministry of the Interior has conceded that Russia's roads are dangerous. Here then are my five tips for staying safe when you are traveling by car in Russia.

1. Don't drive yourself. I don't care if you can navigate I-90 through Seattle in the fog or the New Jersey Turnpike at rush hour. I don’t care if you read Cyrillic and love the high speeds of the Autobahn. Do not drive yourself in Russia. A good agency should provide you with a driver for most, if not all, of the time you are in Russia. And if you have free time in St. Petersburg or Moscow, skip the cab and take the subway instead. Their systems are beautiful, safe and easy to use.

2. Buckle up and ride in back. What should have been common sense for the governor of New Jersey should be common sense for you. Infant and child car seats are not in widespread use in Russia, so it is unlikely that your driver will have one. I held my older son on my lap under my belt. When I adopted my younger son, I belted him in in the middle of the back seat between me and the agency rep.

3. Wait until your driver says it is safe to exit and enter the car. Parking spaces in Russia are in high demand--the Ministry of the Interior says Russia's available parking spaces are now only about 20% of what it needs for the number of cars on the road. So your driver may often have to double park in front of the official offices you need to visit. Never get out on the traffic side.

4. If your car is stopped by the police, do not get involved. Russia's road police pull cars over for a host of reasons that generally have nothing to do with traffic infractions. Sit quietly and patiently, and do not ask questions.

5. If your driver's driving makes you uneasy, tell your agency rep or tell the driver. I asked for a slightly lower speed on the roads outside Yuzhno, and I got it.