Willie Nelson’s catchy ditty, “On The Road Again” was my theme song for about two years in the early 90s while I was maintaining a long distance relationship with my then boyfriend. In my previous blog I told you how I spent endless hours traveling solo along highways and byways so we could keep our relationship alive (he did his fair share of driving too).
That was years ago, and I find myself wondering how it is that I was able to travel so far without ever experiencing a travel calamity. I am much better educated about driving solo now (though, now that I am a mom I’m rarely on the road without a child in tow).
Regardless, if you are a woman who travels extensively by car there are certain precautions you should be taking to assure that you arrive at your destination safe and sound.
Never Pick Up Hitchhikers Or Pull Over To Aid Someone Standing Along A Highway
Even if the person in need looks innocent, you never know if you are seeing the whole picture. It could be a trap. (You can never be too paranoid when you are traveling alone.) Rather than stopping, note their location and use your cellphone to call police with the information.
Lock Your Car
You should make a habit of locking up even when you are in your car. It goes without saying that you should lock your car when you aren’t in it—even when you get out of your car to put gas in it. A locked car deters carjackers.
Keep Your Car Gassed Up
It’s never a good idea to let your tank get lower than a quarter full. Don’t wait to pull over when the needle on your fuel gauge is hovering around “E.” Doing so means you may have to settle to gas up at an isolated, grungy station, rather than at one that is in a populated area.
Ditch The Purse
Someone once told me a woman should never travel with purses. Rather, vests are best. Basically, the advice is to distribute your important belongings (e.g. drivers license, credit cards, cash, keys, etc.) in different pockets; rather than in one single bag, which can easily be ripped away, leaving you with nothing.
Don’t Display Your Vehicle’s Contents
Put as many items in your trunk as possible. You don’t want to advertise to potential assaulters that you are on a long car trip alone. I always stuck my overnight bag in the trunk and placed a black cloth over the items in my back seat. The reflectivity of the car’s windows and the cloth’s ability to absorb light made it look like I had nothing in the backseat at all.
Related Articles:
How Well Do You Know The Rules Of The Road?
Preparing For Your Road Trip: Part 1
Losing Your Car Keys-The Problem With Smart Keys
Preparing For Your Road Trip: Part 3