Personal Safety Series: 5 Tips for Walking to Your Car

personal safety

By Heather Listhartke

When thinking about our personal safety, being aware of our surroundings is one of the most important elements – this is called Situational Awareness, which we wrote about last week. While making it a habit to know what is going on around you, it’s also important to know how to reach a safe area if needed.

1. First, it’s always advisable to walk in well-lit areas, especially if you are walking alone. Before you set out, it’s a good idea to know your path, so you’re not forced to look at your phone for directions every few minutes.

2.When you’re heading to your car from a night out – whether it’s a bar, music venue, arena, etc – walk quickly and confidently with your car keys in your hand.

3. In addition, having a back-up plan is always a good idea.  If there’s someone like a bouncer or a friend that can walk out with you, all the better.

4. As you walk to your car, scan for people watching from a distance or sitting in parked vehicles, especially vehicles with tinted windows or vans

5. As soon as you get into your car, lock the doors and get going.

Learning how to defend yourself can also help you have peace of mind that you know what to do if ever faced with a dangerous situation. For those who don’t want to carry a weapon, taking self-defense classes is a great way to learn fundamental self-defense moves and give you the confidence to know what to do in an unsafe situation. Having the knowledge that you can defend yourself and get out of a bad situation can increase your chances of reaching safety.

This article is brought to you by Nashville Armory, which features climate controlled pistol and rifle rated bays and a training center offering a wide variety of classes for any skill level lead by certified instructors. Visit nashvillearmory.com for more.