Car Tips
Alone Behind the Wheel
What to do and what not to do when driving by yourself.
Source: Shell Canada
Drivers traveling alone can be particularly vulnerable. There are a number of things you can do, however, to keep yourself safer, both inside your car and out. Potential crime prevention is in the palm of your hand.
Personal Protection
- Have your keys ready as you approach your vehicle. Fumbling to find them and unlocking your car takes time and makes you more vulnerable. A small flashlight on your key chain lets you see your door lock and ignition easier at night.
- Pepper spray or mace can be attached to your key chain. Remember, though, that it can also be taken and used against you.
- Your foremost concern should be your personal safety. If you are confronted, do not attempt to reason with a robber. Try to remember what the individual looks like. Remember, possessions can be replaced. Your life can't be.
Parking Safety
- When possible, back into a parking space. Should you need to, you'll be able to drive out with less chance of someone trapping you.
- Try to park close to the building entrance, and in a well-lighted area. Choose a spot away from shrubs and bushes so you can see under and around your car as you approach it.
- In a parking garage, park in a well-lighted, ground level spot close to the parking attendant station or close to the elevators or stairwell near the building entrance.
- As you approach your car, always look in, around, and under the vehicle.
Safety Trip Tips
- Plan your trip before you leave. Make a plan of your trip, including the route you will be taking and anticipated stops. Give a copy of that plan with an estimated time of arrival at your destination to a family member or friend.
- Check your car out completely before you get on the road - many breakdowns are avoidable.
- Don't try to fix a flat tire if you think you are in an unsafe area. Drive slowly to a service station, police station or the nearest public area.
- Driving fatigue can be a killer. It's especially dangerous when you are alone. Don't start a trip late in the day and avoid long drives at night. Take frequent breaks at well-lit rest areas or service stations, and get out of the car to have a stretch or have a snack. If fatigue overcomes you, stay at a motel for the night or stop at a well-lit rest area for a quick nap, ensuring all doors are locked.
Carjacking
- Always keep your doors locked.
- Scan ahead and behind as you drive. Look for individuals who may be loitering near an intersection.
- Try to keep escape routes open. Stay in the left-hand lane when approaching an intersection - you'll be farther away form anyone approaching you from the curb, and there will be less chance of your being "boxed in" by a car on your left and a car parked at the curb.
This information is taken from Shell Canada's Alone Behind the Wheel, written in cooperation with the National Crime Prevention Council and the National Safety Council.
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