Walking alone at night can be dangerous, especially when you’re a woman. A 2014 Gallup survey showed that 45% of women say they don’t feel safe walking alone at night, compared to 27% of men.
But sometimes a late-night walk is unavoidable. Maybe it’s your last chance to get in a workout before bed, or you’re coming home from a friend’s long after dark.
Whatever the case, it’s essential to stay safe. You don’t want to become a victim of street harassment, an assault, or worse.
Here are the most effective ways to stay safe while walking alone at night:
- Plan your route.
Safe walking at night begins with planning your route. Avoid suspicious areas like dark alleyways and parking lots, and stick to busy, lighted areas instead.
When you adopt that strategy, you’re less likely to encounter dangerous situations or find yourself cornered where no one else can see you.
Planning your route also helps you avoid getting lost, which would keep you out even later and increase the safety risk. Plus, you’ll walk more confidently when you know where you’re going.
- Tell someone your plans.
If possible, let someone else know what your plans are. That way, if something happens to you, there’s at least one person who knows where to look for you.
What if you get seriously injured? If someone is aware of your approximate location, he or she can respond more quickly than if nobody knows where you might be. That could be the difference between life and death for you.
- Wear reflective clothing.
You might think reflective clothing would be going overboard, but it could save your life if you’re walking along busy streets. When it’s dark outdoors, drivers have a harder time seeing pedestrians, so fatal incidents are more likely to occur.
If you wear reflective gear, you will help others to see you (or at least something bright that makes them more alert or careful). And if you get involved in a vehicle accident, make sure you consult an experienced auto accident attorney. That professional can help protect your rights and make sure you get the best possible resolution.
- Have your phone on you.
You probably carry your phone with you everywhere, but if you don’t, be sure to take it with you when you walk at night. Then you may call a friend or 911 in an emergency.
Plus, you could download safety apps into your phone which will let you alert authorities discreetly when you get into trouble, or allow friends and family to track your location.
- Carry some deterrents.
In addition to your phone, take along some deterrents. For example, you might carry pepper spray or mace with which to blind an attacker temporarily and give you time to escape.
Keep these tools somewhere accessible and ready. Other deterrents include a whistle to alert others that you’re in distress, a flashlight to blind and hit with, or even a edc pocket knife, taser, or gun.
Just make sure you learn how to use these weapons beforehand, and obtain the necessary concealed carry permits to carry them on you legally.
Lastly, keep a bit of cash on you to give to a thief as a last resort. If you’re cornered, this could be the best way to get the individual to leave you alone.
- Keep your hands free.
Don’t hold things in your hands while you’re walking. If you have to transport stuff, keep all of it in a bag or backpack. Then, if you encounter a dangerous situation, you can react more effectively.
- Remove distractions.
Don’t listen to music or podcasts. Wearing headphones makes it harder to sense people or vehicles approaching you from behind or the side.
The same goes for looking at your phone. Carry it on you, but don’t study it while you’re walking after dark.
Stay alert. Otherwise, you’ll be slower to respond to threats and become a more inviting target.
- Learn self-defense.
Self-defense skills will help you fend off an attacker. Look for a local self-defense class in your area, such as Krav Maga. Not only will you learn how to fight, but you’ll feel more confident in general.
- Trust your instincts.
Finally, if you feel unsafe, check your surroundings with care, and trust your instincts.
If someone is following you or staring at you, get to a safe place like a gas station or fast food restaurant—but not your car or house. You don’t want to lead anyone to your property, which they could then damage or steal.
Once you’re in a safe place, call a friend, taxi, or Uber immediately to take you home. Find a way to have someone else accompany you. There’s safety in numbers.
Even if you’re not worried that anything might happen on your walk at night, insist on making safety a top priority. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
