Personal Safety

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The vast majority of journeys we make will be free from incident or threat. Occasionally, we may have cause for concern. The advice on this page should help to make car travel safer and less stressful for everyone.  It is a fact of modern life that breakdowns, accidents and theft have now been joined by the threat of harassment and conflict at the wheel.  Leaving many people feeling vulnerable - women and men alike. P-L-A-N Your own personal safety. P Prepare yourself. We can all take responsibility for our own personal safety, taking steps to modify or change our behaviour according to the risks Try to be relaxed. You can exacerbate a difficult situation if you are rushed, stressed, or afraid. Avoid confrontation. Do not meet aggression with aggression. Talk your way out of problems: stay calm, speak gently, slowly and clearly. Breathe out slowly to help you relax Respect other people’s space. Each of us has our personal buffer zone which we are quick to defend. Avoid an aggressive stance: crossed arms, hands on hips, a wagging finger or raised arm will challenge and confront. Avoid looking down on anyone or touching someone unnecessarily. L Look confident. A confident person is much less likely to be attacked. Be alert when out and about. Keep fit. Good posture, stamina, strength and tension control can all aid personal safety. Hold your head up, be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards. Know where you are going and how to get there. A Avoid putting yourself at risk. Your aim is to remain safe! Thinking things through and planning for the unexpected helps you to feel confident and react well in emergencies. Read this page often. ‘If this were to happen - then what would I do?’ Take a few moments to consider what you would do if a problem should occur. Let someone know, with at least a note to say where you are going and when you will be back. Tell them if your plans change. N Never assume. It won’t happen to me. Nobody is invincible. Even though the chances are slight, don’t bury your head in the sand. Your fears are unfounded. Do not ignore your instincts or the ‘funny feeling’. ACT straight away. A ‘good Samaritan’ is what, or who they appear to be. That your mobile phone will work. • Invest in a reliable vehicle. • Join a Breakdown motoring organisation. • Service your car regularly and carry out routine checks. • Learn some basic car maintenance - as an absolute minimum you should know how to change a wheel. • Keep all doors locked. • Never set off on a journey with less than a quarter tank full of petrol / diesel - many drivers have problems simply because they run out of fuel. • Consider carrying - Useful telephone numbers / loose change / reflective clothing / torch / walking shoes / a warm coat or blanket / personal alarm / spare fuel / oil / first aid kit / puncture repair aerosol / tow rope / foot pump / fire extinguisher / spare fuses and bulbs / jump leads / food. • Plan your journey and inform another person of your route and estimated time of arrival. • If you need to ask directions, do it somewhere well lit and busy like a shop or garage. • If you need to ask a pedestrian, keep all doors locked and only open your window a little way. • When you fill up with fuel, lock your car and take the keys with you when you go to pay. Some thieves hang around petrol stations waiting to steal valuables either from the unlocked vehicle or to steal the vehicle itself (with a full tank of fuel). • Never leave valuables / handbags on the passenger seat, someone could snatch them at a traffic light or junction. • Don’t be distracted! some people point at imaginary faults on your vehicle.  Ignore them and check them out later in a safe well lit area. • If you think someone is following you, check by driving round the block or a roundabout a couple of times. Don’t go home, try reading the number plate backwards in your mirror. Make sure all your doors are locked and drive to a busy, well lit public place where there are lots of people. Stop there - flash your lights and sound your horn until help arrives. • If someone tries to force you to stop by a car that has just overtaken you - stay in your car, lock the doors and keep your engine running.  If anyone gets out of the car and approaches you - check behind you and slowly reverse back about 40 metres, if the person is still coming towards you repeat the exercise.  If you have a phone make it clear you are using it (even if it doesn’t work). finally drive away quickly in a controlled manner - it is no use getting away then crashing your car • Car Parks - park near a manned entrance, exit or lift and keep away from pillars, alcoves, shrubs and bushes. Reverse into the space so you can get away quickly if you feel under threat. Lock valuables out of sight in the boot.  At night park in a well lit area and have a torch handy.  Before you get in look through the windows and make sure there isn’t anybody in the back. • If you break down on a motorway don’t panic and keep driving if possible until you reach an emergency telephone.    Keep as close to the left as possible and put on your hazard warning lights.  Get out by the passenger door.                  Do not use a warning triangle, it’s to dangerous - one third of motorway crashes happen on the hard shoulder.          Stand behind the telephone facing the traffic.  The phones do not have a dialling tone - so don’t think they are not working.  The phones are usually linked to the POLICE control room and because the phones are coded they will know exactly where you are.  After phoning, return to your car and wait outside your vehicle on the verge behind the crash barrier / weather conditions may mean it is better to wait in your vehicle.  Do not attempt ANY repairs yourself. Once your vehicle is repaired, use the hard shoulder to build your speed up to 70mph before you re-join the main carriageway. • NEVER pick up hitch-hikers and never hitch a lift yourself.