One thing that I have seen in pretty much every country I have flown in is a widespread reluctance on the part of recreational pilots to use ATC enroute radar services.
Part of the issue is IMO insufficient emphasis on this in the PPL. New pilots do not feel confident in utilizing enroute ATC services because it is often never demonstrated and practiced in training. They are afraid of making a mistake or sounding stupid on the radio and so fail to utilize the extra level of safety it gives. I was personally saved by ATC one day flying in the airspace East of Vancouver at 8500 feet one hazy afternoon. The quick call from ATC saved what would almost certainly have been a mid air when another aircraft not talking to anyone turned into me.
The bottom line: Use ATC to the maximum extent practicable and if you are unsure of how to access it, get some instruction.