According to Shell oil, two violent crimes are committed in the U.S.
every minute of every day. Women driving alone can be particularly
vulnerable, though there are many things you can do to keep yourself
safer, both inside your car and out.

We found an informative brochure from Shell Oil with many helpful tips to
guide women towards safer behaviors when alone behind the wheel.
Written in conjunction with the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org)
and the National Crime Prevention Council (www.weprevent.org), many of
the free booklet's tips are simply common-sense reminders to help you
be more aware of potentially dangerous situations.

First off: An especially good habit is always to be sure you have your keys in your hand before you approach your car.

Several pages are dedicated to parking lot safety, with familiar reminders to
park in a well-lighted area, near the exit, and away from shrubs that
could hide a would-be attacker. But the booklet also suggests such
tactics as backing into the parking spot to reduce the chance that
somebody could trap you, and flipping your passenger seat forward
before leaving the vehicle to aid our visibility into the car when you
return. Also, if you've got a group of people returning to their cars
in a lot, another tip suggests that everybody should go to one car
first, then that driver can drop off each person one at a time,
remaining nearby until each vehicle starts safely.

Concerned about car-jackings? Well, keeping your door locked is a no-brainer.
But, if you feel you could be driving into a potentially dangerous
situation at an intersection, the booklet suggests anticipating your
approach so that you can time the light to avoid stopping. Try to be
alert of potential escape routes: leave enough room behind the car in
front of you that you can see its tires touching the pavement, so you
can pull out quickly without having to back up. And stay in the
left-hand lane when approaching an intersection; this will give you
time to see anybody approaching from the curb, and reduce your chance
of being boxed in.

If you are concerned that you're being followed, don't drive home: You'll
just be bringing a potential attacker to your home and loved ones.
Instead, drive to a well-lit public place like a grocery store, gas
station, or police station. Once there, draw attention to yourself,
even honk your horn if you have to.

These are just highlights - click to download your own complete copy of Shell's "Alone Behind the Wheel,"
for more safety tips on what to do and what not to do when driving by
yourself. It's a handy little booklet that you can keep in your
glovebox or pass along to a friend when you're done reading it. Might
even be a good idea to browse the other downloadable booklets at the site, and collect a set to provide to any young drivers in your household.

Jody DeVere
President
www.askpatty.com
www.carblabber.com