Is It Safe For A Woman To Drive Alone? Easy Tips For All Women

While it is entirely safe for women to drive alone, generally speaking, we do need to be vigilant to ensure we don’t become a victim. This can include things like looking out for danger, properly preparing for journeys, and ensuring our vehicle is well maintained.

Car insurance companies tend to regard women a safer drivers than men. In fact, a recent British study backs this up.

However, female drives must be more cautious when driving alone so that they don’t fall victim to any criminal acts such as sexual assault, hijacking, intimidation, or worse.

This article will go over all of the things that women should be cautious of when driving alone. I’ll also provide a series of tips to help female drivers feel safer when they’re on their own.

First – Is It Dangerous To Drive Late At Night?

It is known that driving at night can often be more dangerous than driving in the daytime.

There are a number of reasons for this, including:

People tend to be more tired at night, making them more prone to accidents
You may be more tempted to take risks at night with fewer people on the road
The darkness can make it much more difficult to see any potential hazards or danger
There are fewer people around, meaning sketchy people are more likely to commit offenses

There are a number of ways in which female travelers can prevent becoming a victim of any crimes or accidents at night including the following:

Always use your lights properly
Avoid staring at oncoming vehicles
Keep your car windows clean
Never drive when you are tired
Always be cautious of pedestrians, cyclists, and animals
Get your eyes tested regularly
Keep your car doors locked

Is It Safe To Go On A Road Trip By Yourself?

In general, it is entirely safe for a woman to go on a road trip by herself. However, as always, women should use common sense and also be very vigilant when it comes to driving alone.

This applies whether the woman is driving just around the corner or right across the country.

Although many of the same rules apply to a man who is driving alone, women traveling alone must be extra cautious to avoid becoming the victim of crimes such as sexual assault, hijacking, or even worse.

Women tend to be seen as an easier target by those predators who commit these sorts of crimes, which is why it is more likely for a woman to fall victim than a man.

There are a number of things a woman can do to be safer when driving alone, so keep reading!

Female Driving Alone – Safety Tips

There are several things that a woman can do to ensure they remain safe on their journey alone:

Properly Maintain Your Vehicle

It’s a good idea to ensure that your car is always in good mechanical condition. The last thing you want to do is end up breaking down on the side of the road.

In fact, maintaining your car’s good condition is one of the best things a single woman can do to ensure their own safety while driving.

Here are some tips for good car maintenance:

Complete a safety check before each long trip (especially if it’s a solo road trip)..
Learn how to do some car repairs such as changing a tire, jump-starting the battery, and changing a wiper blade.
Check the condition of your tires and your tire pressure on a regular basis.
Be sure to make use of the vehicle handbook so you know exactly how everything works.
Always fill the gas tank before your warning light appears so you can be sure you’ll always have enough fuel (personally, as a solo traveler, I try to fill the tank when it’s between one quarter and one half full. I don’t want to worry that I can’t find any gas stations!).
Always get any problems diagnosed and fixed as soon as possible, rather than waiting.

Plan Your Trip Beforehand

Planning is good preparation and can give you some peace of mind, especially when you’re making a journey alone. Below are some tips on properly planning your trip:

Plan your route via google maps or something similar before you leave and always stick to main roads that are well-lit.
Add some emergency numbers to your phone such as for your car insurance and a roadside assistance company just in case.
Plan to avoid driving in dark areas, especially when they are unfamiliar.
Always be prepared for delays. Keep your cell phone fully charged and invest in a backup charger, just in case.
Use a GPS system. I personally use my phone but I also have a Garmin GPS Navigator in my glove box just in case something happens to my phone or it just stops working.
Keep a Smart Charger in your car and before a trip make sure that it’s fully charged. This is a great way to charge your phone, your car battery, etc.
It’s a good habit to get into to always tell a friend or family member about your travel plans, so they know where you are going beforehand.
Always carry self defense weapons with you such as pepper spray, guard dog stick and/or self defense sticks. If you want to keep the whole kit and kaboodle in your car you can invest in a Survival Gear Kit that includes first aid supplies, self defense tools and much more.

Remaining Safe While Driving

When you are driving, it’s important that you remain as safe as possible. Below are some tips on how to enhance your safety while driving alone:

Lock all of your doors and keep your windows rolled up while driving.
When you are stopped in traffic, leave enough space in front so that you can pull out from behind the car you’re following.
If someone confronts you with road rage, the best thing to do is to ignore them and continue your journey.
Don’t allow strangers to get your attention.
Avoid engaging with any strangers on the road. Women drivers may attract unwanted attention, especially from males, which could lead to a dangerous situation.
Be cautious when you approach intersections. Look out for pedestrians, cyclists, children, and animals.
Keep your purse, credit cards and other valuables out of sight.
Always maintain a safe following distance between your car and the one ahead of you.
Avoid becoming distracted while driving. Turn your phone notifications off so that you don’t get tempted to glance at your phone.
Never give rides to strangers or hitchhikers.
Turn down the volume of your car radio. If it’s too loud, it can prevent you from hearing important sounds around you..
If you believe you are being followed, go to the nearest police station or drive to a public place or find a busy area so that you can get some help.
Consider putting a panic button app on your cell phone.
Think about stashing pepper spray for self d e fense within easy reach in your center console. Or here are some household items that can be used for self defense.

What To Do In An Emergency Situation

Unfortunately, we can never predict the future, and sometimes car failure is inevitable. If something goes wrong and your car breaks down, take note of the following tips:

Carry an emergency pack with you that includes things like a blanket, snacks, water, money, and a flashlight. You never know how long you could be waiting for roadside assistance.
If your car breaks down, pull over, turn on your hazard lights, and call for vehicle assistance.
Never assume that someone in an unmarked police car is actually a police officer. Police impersonators will often drive an unmarked vehicle with detachable flashing blue lights on the roof in order to fool people into trusting them. If you are approached by an unmarked police car, put your flashers on, then continue driving until you find a well-lit, busy safe place to pull over.
If someone tries to help you while you’re broken down, roll the window down slightly and tell them that someone is already on their way to help. Never roll your window down fully to talk to strangers.
If someone hits your car from behind, stay in your vehicle until the police arrive.
If someone tries to break into your car, sound your horn to attract attention.
If you have a flat tire in a dangerous or dark area, drive slowly to the nearest well-lit, busy area. Although this could ruin your tire, it could also save your life.
Keep something in your car that you can use as a weapon – just in case.

Be Safe When Parking

Parking safety is another important thing that female drivers should take note of. Below are some tips on staying safe when parking your car:

Always choose parking spaces that are well-lit and busy, whenever possible.
Take note of exactly where you have parked and have your keys out ready when you return to your car.
If you park on a street, always choose one that is busy and well-lit.
Always take note of your surroundings when placing goods in your trunk.
Check the back seat before getting back into your car, even if you left the car completely locked.
Avoid leaning too far into the trunk where possible.
Wait until you are right by the car before you unlock it.
If you are feeling uneasy about a large vehicle parked next to yours, ask a security guard to walk with you to your car.
When approaching your car, be aware of anything that looks suspicious.

Final Thoughts

Most women tend to be very safe drivers but could be placed in a vulnerable position if they aren’t cautious.

By following the tips in this article, you can ensure that you feel safe and secure on any solo trip.

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