You might have read news stories about lone drivers, often women, who have been attacked when driving alone.
Did you ever have experience a fleeting thought, perhaps something like ... "That could happen to me."
A breakdown on a motorway... An assault in a car park... Running out of petrol on a country lane ...
If you have ever felt uncomfortable at the thought of situations like this you will find practical and useful advice in this area.
These pages have information about:
Use the links on the top menu for info on each of these topics.
A little planning can go a long way to ensuring your safety when driving alone. A lot of the time things that some people might consider to be bad luck are simply down to bad planning - or no planning at all. Whether or not you have concerns about driving alone, a little planning can make your journeys easier and safer.
Breakdown protection: Perhaps the first thing on the good planning list is breakdown protection. If you don't belong to a rescue service. Join one today! Being able to call for help is essential if a problem arises.
Check whether your insurance company has an emergency assistance number; you might already have breakdown cover as part of your policy and haven't realised!Carry your breakdown emergency membership card with you and keep a list of emergency phone numbers in your vehicles glove box, wallet or handbag - ideally programmed into your phone.
Tell a friend: Does someone know where you are going? Gain peace of mind on long journeys by telling a friend where you are going and when you expect to arrive. You might want to arrange to make 'I'm OK' phone calls at intervals during your trip or when you get to your destination.
Not got a phone? If you don't own a mobile phone, consider getting one for emergency use only.
Useful stuff to have in the car:
It is also an idea to have a pair of comfortable walking shoes in the boot and a plastic apron and gloves in case you need to change a wheel. In the winter, pack an emergency kit (see winter driving). Beware, keep spare shoes (and other stuff) away from the driver's foot-well because they could roll forward and get jammed under the brake pedal.
Route planning in advance will save a lot of potential frustration. Make a note of the major towns on route and smaller places that might be signposted.
If you are using the motorway network, make a note of the junction exit numbers you need (looking for exit numbers is often easier than reading all the directions on a route sign).
Write your plan in large letters so that you can read it easily by simply glancing at it when driving without being distracted from the road.
If you need to consult a map, find a safe place to stop.
The following links will take you to useful online route planning services:
There are quite a lot of common-sense things that you can do to ensure that you remain safe during your journey.
Perhaps the first an most obvious advice, whether alone or not, is to make sure that you are fit to drive. Don't set out on a trip if you are tired, emotionally upset or if have been drinking alcohol.
It might be worth noting that some driving phobias can be traced back to seemingly uneventful journeys where the driver has been emotionally upset or pondering over a major problem such as a divorce or bereavement. If you do have to drive at times of stress, remind yourself that the problems are not linked to the driving but are a totally separate part of your life.
There are lots of situations where you can take action to minimise risk by a little forward planning when you arrive at your destination. This information is designed to raise your awareness of potential parking 'trouble spots' so that you can avoid them or, alternatively, take specific action to stay safe.
Choosing a parking space: Park on the ground floor of multi-storey car parks; if this is not possible, park near the stairs or lift, away from pillars and alcoves. In open car parks park as near to the pedestrian exit as possible, well away from shrubs and bushes. At night park in well lit areas. Learn to reverse into spaces at the side of the road ... This will often enable you to park nearer to your destination.
Reverse into car park spaces: With a little practise reversing in becomes easier and safer than driving in. There is less shunting backwards and forwards and therefore less opportunity for scrapes and bumps, or running into children!
Equally as important is the fact that it is easier to 'get away' if you are under threat (or perceive that you might be). You can simply drive forwards, even if a would be assailant manages to open one of the doors.
Returning to your car: At night, get someone to walk with you if your car is in a 'quiet' place (you can then give them a lift back). Have your keys ready and look through the windows to check behind the seats before getting into the car. If you have an unwelcome approach, lock the doors, start the engine and sound the horn (lots!).
You will generally feel more secure, especially in built up areas if you lock your car doors. This will prevent opportunist thieves from trying to grab stuff from your car in traffic jams or when stopped at lights.
It is also a good idea to keep purses, wallets, handbags and other desirable pickings out of sight. It has been known for thieves to smash the windows of vehicles parked in traffic to grab a bag, phone, camera or other 'booty'.
When getting fuel, lock the car before you fill up. Not only can thieves steal your car, but they get a full tank of petrol as part of the deal ... And you are left stuck at a garage, perhaps in a strange town.
Stay cool
Avoid attracting attention to yourself. If someone cuts you up, stay cool and just let them go. If others want to overtake, let them. The further away you are from aggressive drivers, the better!
Stranger danger: We teach our kids to beware of strangers... You should do the same when driving alone. Avoid picking up hitch hikers, male or female, or accepting lifts from strangers (if you break down).
People often feel vulnerable when their cars break down, particularly in remote areas, perhaps with no phone signal, or when a long way from home. Some breakdowns cannot be foreseen and are therefore inevitable.
However, there is a lot that you can do to minimise your risk or to help yourself if your car breaks down.
As a minimum you should know how to change a wheel and check user-serviceable items. In many areas there are evening or day classes to help you learn more.
Checking your car: Remembering daily and weekly checks will help ensure that your car is fully operational. Contrary to popular opinion cars don't bite when you open the bonnet ... And new cars are not dirty and smelly any more either!
A few minutes a week can save hours of frustration and worry. Your vehicle handbook will give you all the information that you need to make the checks, but you will find advice about simple vehicle checks and wheel changing in the Useful Information area of the SmartDriving Web Site.
Regular servicing: Many breakdowns can be avoided by having your car serviced regularly ...
Emergency patrol-men from motoring organisations confirm that many breakdowns are completely avoidable - This is especially the case where the breakdown involves fuel, cooling or electrical problems. Follow your manufacturer's service recommendations and if you suspect a problem, have it dealt with before it develops into something serious.
It takes just a few minutes a week!
Ever run out of fuel? More than 50,000 motorists a year call motoring organisations because they have run out of fuel. Check your fuel gauge before you start your journey and carry a spare supply of fuel in an approved safety container.
Always double check that you are putting the correct fuel in your car, especially at strange garages or when you are tired. Using the wrong grade of fuel can cause poor performance - the wrong type of fuel will ruin your engine or your catalytic converter (in simple terms - that's lots of cash!).
If you are unlucky enough to breakdown a few simple safety precautions will avoid a mishap becoming a crisis!
If you suspect that you have a problem, look for a safe place to stop where you car can easily be see (to avoid accident danger). Turn off the ignition and switch on your hazard lights.
Use your mobile phone to call for help, stress that you are travelling alone, especially if you are female and/or have children with you. Be cautious of others who offer to help - use your common-sense and follow the advice given elsewhere in this section.
If you need to get out of the car beware of traffic - use the nearside doors for safety, especially on fast roads such as motorways and dual carriageways. If you have to move away from your car do it purposefully - a positive attitude will often deter anyone with malicious intent. If you leave your car, lock it.
Where are you? The breakdown service, or motorway control centre, will need to know where you are (no problem if you have planned your route!). On motorways, the emergency telephones are numbered to help the rescue services find you (if possible, let your car roll along the hard shoulder to stop on the motorway rather than using your brakes to stop half a mile from a phone).
On motorway and dual carriageway hard shoulders you are safer waiting out of your vehicle on the verge (see the Elvis Video on our Motorway Driving pages). Lock all the car doors except the one nearest to you (and keep the keys in your pocket). If anyone approaches, get into the car and lock it.
The first thing to remember here, is that it's rare to be followed by someone who might have bad intent towards you when you are driving. However, if you think that you are being followed, you need to keep calm and act rationally.
The starting point is remembering that you are in control of the situation and safe in your car. Next you need to remember a few simple 'do's and don'ts'.
Choose a road you know. If you are in a strange area, or on a motorway, drive around a one-way system or a roundabout a couple of times. Make sure that you stick to major routes to avoid the risk of turning into a dead end road. If the other car stays with you it is reasonable to assume that it is following. stay calm and take action.
What can I do? Knowing that you are being followed means that you are in control - you are the leader.
The simplest action is to drive to a police station, fire station, or similar, somewhere that there will be people. If you are in a strange area drive to a busy place, a petrol station is ideal. Draw attention to yourself by flashing your lights and sounding your horn it's not necessary to get out of the car - you can keep the doors locked. Keep driving until you reach a safe place.
Drive in a calm measured way at a sensible safe speed - if you try to 'get away' by driving fast to 'shake off' the following driver you risk having an accident.
Reading backwards: Practice reading number plates backwards (in your mirror). Call 112 (999) on your mobile phone and explain where you are, the colour of your car and details of the 'follower'. Remember the dangers of using a mobile phone on the move and pull up in a busy place, or hard shoulder (this is an emergency) to make the call if possible - if you have to make the call on the move stay calm and reduce your speed.
Should I pull over? It's good to be cautious and to consider whether other drivers are helping or threatening. If another driver gestures that you should stop because there is a problem with your car, drive on to stop in a place where there are other people.
If your car breaks down and another person approaches, lock the doors and keep the windows closed. Explain (through closed windows) that they should call the police for you. If you have a phone, tell them that you are OK and have called the police for help. When help arrives, check the credentials of the helper, most rescue services have uniforms and clearly marked vehicles. If not they should have ID badges.
The chances of this happening to you are probably several million to one against - however, with millions of people on the Internet I feel duty bound to share this information with you, even though you are highly unlikely to ever need it.
Sadly, those who might benefit are the ones who are unaware, the ones who have not taken an interest in their own safety in the way that you do.
Action: If you are forced to stop, stay in the car, lock the doors and keep your head. You are safer in your car than anywhere else. Do not try to run away. If there are passing drivers, draw attention to yourself with your headlights and horn - keep your engine running.
- Allow the other driver to get out of his/her vehicle, then drive or reverse slowly for about thirty or forty metres and stop. Avoid high speed stunts! If you tried to reverse away quickly you could lose control and run off the road
- As the assailant draws near repeat the exercise to lure him away from his own vehicle. By doing this you will create a chance to 'escape' and to buy time.
- If you have a phone, make it clear that you are using it.
- Draw the other person as far away as you can from the security of his/her vehicle. Finally, drive away quickly, but in a controlled manner ... It's no use getting away and crashing your car.
Extreme action: As an extreme last resort, drive at your assailant to cause injury.
Be very aware that you must only do this as a last resort - there is the danger that you may later be sued for malicious wounding or charged with assault, when the attacker pleads: "I was simply going to ask for directions your honour..."
Crash? Never try to ram into or damage the other drivers car. By doing this you would risk damaging and immobilising your own vehicle.
Remember - There are very few cases of people being stopped. Follow the advice on this page and you will enjoy a lifetime of solo driving!