All motorists need to be careful on the roads, but unfortunately, female drivers need to pay extra attention and remain vigilant at all times. Whether it’s during the day or night, women who drive alone need to take a few additional precautions.
Here are a few safety tips to remember the next time you are driving solo:
- As far as possible, don’t drive in areas that you don’t know. It is easy to get lost and become a target as a potential victim.
- Always make sure that your mobile phone is charged. Keep a car charger or power bank in your car in case of an emergency.
- When travelling long distances, it’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to drive with you. Two is always better than one.
- Ensure that your car undergoes regular services and is well maintained. It’s a good idea to learn how to change a tyre, jump-start the battery or change a wiper blade.
- Keep the volume of your radio at a reasonable level so that you are aware of your surroundings and can hear what is going on around you.
- Lastly, do not assume that an unmarked vehicle with flashing lights is a police car. If you are unsure, and a suspicious-looking “police vehicle” tries to pull you over, keep on driving until you reach a well-lit area, such as a fuel station. Park as close as you can to the entrance of the garage shop and hoot. This will attract the attendants, but you will be safe. If the vehicle following you are police, they will approach you. Open your window just enough to ask them to show you their police ID’s.