Personal Safety in Public: What Women Should Know
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
As communities continue to focus on personal safety, law enforcement and self-defense experts emphasize that while most encounters in public places are harmless, it is important to trust your instincts when something feels wrong.
Whether walking to a vehicle after work, shopping alone, exercising outdoors, or arriving home after dark, recognizing potential warning signs and knowing how to respond can help reduce risk and increase personal safety.
One of the most common messages from law enforcement professionals is simple: trust your gut.
If a person, vehicle, or situation makes you uncomfortable, do not ignore those feelings. Human intuition often recognizes danger before the conscious mind can fully process it.
While it is important not to panic or assume the worst, experts say it is better to take precautions and be wrong than dismiss a concern that later proves legitimate.
Parking lots are among the most common locations where people report feeling vulnerable.
Safety experts recommend parking in well-lit areas whenever possible and avoiding spaces next to large vans, trucks, or other vehicles that obstruct visibility. Women should have their keys ready before leaving a building and avoid distractions such as texting while walking through parking lots. It is also important to scan the area before approaching a vehicle and to quickly check the back seat and surrounding area before getting inside.
If something feels unusual or unsafe, experts recommend returning to the business and asking for assistance. Many retail stores, hospitals, casinos, and larger businesses have security personnel available who can escort patrons or employees to their vehicles upon request.
Newer vehicles allow for the owner to set the unlock features to their liking. Standard is to unlock all doors but changing the setting to where only the driver door unlocks is recommended as it prevents someone hidden on the passenger side from being able to gain entry into the vehicle as the driver enters.
Additionally, light settings can also be adjusted to either not flashing or illuminating at all, flashing once or twice, and also illuminating the headlight and other perimeter lighting. Interior lights can also be illuminated or deactivated. Either can be advantageous for safety and overall deterrence.
The key fob for most vehicles also includes a panic or duress button that activates the vehicle’s alarm system. This can also be used to garner unwanted attention to any person intent on wrongdoing.
What To Do
If you suspect someone is following you on foot, experts recommend making deliberate changes to your route. Crossing the street, changing direction, or entering a busy business can help determine whether the person is simply heading in the same direction or intentionally following you. Moving toward groups of people and contacting a friend or family member by phone can also increase safety and create awareness of your situation.
If the individual continues to follow you after these changes, your concern may be justified.
Experts strongly advise against isolating yourself in restrooms, stairwells, alleys, parking garages, or other secluded areas. Instead, move toward employees, security personnel, law enforcement officers, or any populated location where assistance is available.
Well lit areas and areas under surveillance by security cameras are recommended as well.
Many people first realize they may be followed while driving.
In these situations, experts advise against driving directly home. Instead, motorists should drive to a police station, fire station, hospital emergency department, or another busy public location. If an individual believes they are in immediate danger, they should call 911 while remaining in a secure, populated area.
One common recommendation from law enforcement is to make several consecutive turns around city blocks. If the same vehicle remains behind you despite multiple route changes, it may indicate intentional following behavior.
Driving to the local law enforcement center is also an option. Many keep their front lobby entrance unlocked for this exact situation.
When stopped at intersections with other traffic. Be sure to stop short and keep a gap between the vehicle ahead. Generally, being able to see some ground between the vehicle in front and the hood of your vehicle is enough. In the event that the vehicle ahead is also involved and there is an attempt to box-in or block, one can turn left or right and have a clear escape path.
Driving up on scenes such as a person waving for help or what looks like a car crash or disabled vehicle are also tactics used. Be cautious and if you are not comfortable, don’t stop. Phone in the hazard to law enforcement and let the professionals check it out. If you do stop and things don’t feel right (gut instinct), trust that instinct and separate yourself from that scene and again, call it in.
And never pick up a hitchhiker.
Women who regularly walk, jog, or exercise outdoors can improve their safety by choosing well-traveled routes and avoiding isolated shortcuts. Situational awareness remains critical, and experts recommend keeping music volume low enough to hear surrounding activity or leaving one earbud out entirely.
Carrying a charged cellphone, sharing location information with a trusted friend or family member, and varying routes and schedules can also reduce vulnerability. Maintaining awareness of who is nearby and minimizing distractions can help individuals identify potential threats before they escalate.
Seek training, learn self defense tactics, and do not be afraid to use them. Eye irritant sprays, electronic shock devices, and firearms are all tools but one must be proficient, comfortable, and ready to use them while also understanding self defense laws.
Employees who close businesses at night often face unique safety concerns.
Safety experts recommend conducting a final sweep of the building before locking doors and ensuring all customers have left the premises. Before exiting, employees should look outside and assess their surroundings. If coworkers are available, walking to vehicles together can provide an added layer of security.
Business owners can contribute to employee safety by ensuring exterior lighting remains functional and security cameras are properly maintained. In situations where concerns exist, businesses may also request additional law enforcement patrols during closing hours.
Employees should never feel embarrassed about asking for an escort to their vehicle if they feel uncomfortable.
Be vigilant for repeated persons or vehicles coming around or “scoping” out the business. When suspicious of such behavior, make notes of date and time, the person(s) and vehicle(s) and notify law enforcement. Police patrols are generally aware of when businesses on their beat close and open and should be coming around at those times too.
Many people relax once they reach home, but experts warn that the transition from vehicle to residence can be one of the most vulnerable moments of the day.
Safety professionals recommend having house keys ready before exiting a vehicle and avoiding delays in driveways or parking areas while texting, checking messages, or gathering belongings. Individuals should observe their surroundings before leaving the vehicle and use exterior lighting whenever possible. Once inside, doors should be locked immediately.
If someone suspects they have been followed home, experts recommend remaining inside the locked vehicle and contacting law enforcement. In some cases, driving away and proceeding to a safer location may be the best option. Confronting a suspicious individual is generally discouraged.
Safety professionals say several common mistakes can increase risk.
Individuals should avoid ignoring their instincts or becoming distracted by phones while walking alone. Experts also caution against agreeing to go to a secondary location with a stranger or confronting suspicious individuals without assistance. Driving directly home when being followed can unintentionally reveal personal information and place loved ones at risk.
Posting real-time locations on social media can also create unnecessary vulnerabilities. Most importantly, safety experts emphasize that personal safety should never be sacrificed out of concern for appearing rude, impolite, or overly cautious.
Many victims later report experiencing feelings of discomfort before an incident occurred but chose to dismiss those instincts because they did not want to overreact.
When home alone, experts recommend keeping doors and windows secured, maintaining adequate exterior lighting, and verifying who is at the door before opening it. Individuals should avoid announcing on social media that they are alone and should keep a phone readily accessible, especially during nighttime hours.
If someone attempts to enter a residence unlawfully or a person feels threatened inside their home, authorities advise calling 911 immediately.
Another tip is to keep vehicle key fobs near the bed. Activating the duress alarm at night can attract neighbor’s attention, further highlight the address for responding police with a noisy car alarm and lights flashing, and also draw unwanted attention to any unwelcome person.
Situational Awareness
Public safety professionals consistently emphasize that situational awareness remains one of the most effective personal safety measures available.
Simply looking up from a phone, paying attention to surroundings, recognizing unusual behavior, and acting early when something feels wrong can significantly reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. While most encounters with strangers end without incident, experts say preparation, awareness, and confidence in one’s instincts can make a significant difference when personal safety is at stake.
As many law enforcement officers and self-defense instructors often remind people, trusting your instincts is not paranoia-it is a survival skill. If something does not feel right, taking action early may be the most important step you can take to protect yourself.
For anyone who believes they are in immediate danger, authorities recommend calling 911 and moving to a safe, populated location as quickly as possible.