When traveling at night, it is important that you are mindful of your safety. Preparation, forethought and attentiveness are critical aspects of taking care of yourself when you are on the go at night. Whatever your reasons for traveling at night, you must be alert and thoughtful about how you will get from one place to the other safely. Here are a few suggestions for things that you can do to be safer when traveling at night.
Stay in the Light
If your nighttime travel includes parking and walking to a venue, parking is where you must begin being prudent in your decision-making. Parking garages can create a lot of opportunities for risks because not all areas of parking garages have proper lighting. To reduce your risk, park directly under or as near as you possibly can to the parking garage’s canopy lighting. The lighting improves visibility which allows you to see what is around you more clearly, serves as a deterrent to potential bad actors and keeps you visible should any danger occur. If you are parking on the street, you should park under or as close to a streetlight as possible. Staying in well-lit areas is very important when traveling at night.
Park With Intentionality
When parking in any parking garage, especially at night, you should park as near to the exits or elevators as possible, so you have as short a trip as possible from your vehicle out of the parking garage. You should also park near other vehicles that are parked in well-lit areas. This allows you not to have to walk a distance to where your vehicle is parked on its own. It is better to be parked where someone would see any nefarious acts and could help you should the need arise.
Keep Others Informed
Thanks to technology, you never really have to be alone when you are traveling at night because of your cell phone. It is important to keep your hands free, but you should have your cell phone easily accessible in case you need it. Another way to use your cell phone to keep you safer at night, or if you feel at risk, is to call someone and have them talk to you until you arrive safely at your destination. This will make you feel safer, but it will also serve as a resource should you need assistance because the person you are speaking to can call emergency services if you are unable to. You should always make sure someone knows where you are going when you travel at night and the route you plan to take.
Take the Busy Path
In addition to letting your family or friends know where you are going and how you will get there, you should make sure that the path you plan to take is the path that is most commonly traveled and most likely to have other people walking that path. Make sure the path you will take is the path that is the most well-lit. Do not take shortcuts. Stay on the path you told your loved ones you would take. All of these steps are the safest options, and they also serve as the best way to help you if anything unfortunate does occur.
Pay Attention
It is very important that when you are traveling at night that you pay attention to your surroundings. Do not distract yourself by using your phone unnecessarily. If your call or text message is not urgent, it can wait. Social media can wait as well. You should also not wear any headphones or earbuds that could impair your hearing. The ability to see and hear what is going on around you is essential to you taking care of your own safety.
If you are able to travel with a friend or two that is more ideal than traveling alone. It is, however, sometimes unavoidable to travel alone at night. When it is unavoidable, you must take responsibility for your own safety. Take the extra care and precautions needed to keep yourself safe and protected. Being careful and taking extra precautions is about vigilance, not fear. Do not let any misguided understanding about self-protection prevent you from taking the steps needed to keep yourself safe when you are traveling at night.
Recent Comments