Hey, girls! There’s nothing like driving alone, huh? But, not without a safe drive! It’s important to maintain safety while driving, especially with these increasing molestation cases. Hence, we have compiled 5 top car driving tips for women to save themselves from any mishap or crime.
The recent spate of heinous crimes against women comes as a harsh reminder to stay alert-not just in the workplace, but on the roads as well. Bearing this in mind, let’s understand some handy car driving tips. Understand how you can use gadgets and tech available in your car that could save you from potentially hazardous situations.
So, sit up, and read these car driving tips since nothing should keep you from sitting in that driver’s seat and enjoying the ride across the world.
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1. Keep your wits about you and believe in your instincts
Trust Your Gut Sometimes a woman is gifted with a superpower: the sixth sense. If you feel uncomfortable about almost everything, even something as petty as your colleague asking you for a ride in your car. Then trust your gut feeling and respond with a firm NO! Saying no to that does not make you rude; rather it shows you value your security.
Plan Your Route: Always plan your route, especially if you return late in the evening. Choose familiar routes where you will be aware of safe places to stop in case it becomes necessary to do so. You can even share your route with your friend or a family member so they will know your whereabouts and can easily check if needed.
2. Car Driving Tips: Keep Your Car Well Maintained
Regular Car Maintenance: Make your car well-maintained to avoid an unexpected breakdown, especially in dangerous places as a part of car driving tips. Keep an eye on your car’s engine, brakes, lights, and tyres. It may save you from entering a dangerous situation at the right time.
Fuel Check: While this is a matter of personal choice, ensure to keep the tank at least half full. This is because if in an unsafe place or location, you will find yourself helpless and stranded. It is safer to queue at the first petrol pump seen in a known place than to enter a deserted fuel station.
Emergency Kit: You must have an emergency kit in your car, which should include a torch, a first aid box, and all your vehicle documents including RC and insurance, and some basic tools. Pepper spray can also be kept in the glove box for added safety. These can make a difference in a large number of cases when dealing with emergencies.
Buy a Tyre Inflator: Keep a portable battery-powered tyre inflator with you, which can come in handy to inflate flat tyres until you can get to a safe place. Secondly, learn how to change a tyre-it’s a basic life skill everyone should possess! Sometimes these fraudsters will try to get you to roll down your windows by telling you that your tyre is flat. Don’t brake or try to look right away; drive to a safe location as fast as possible.
3. Keep Vigil to Your Surroundings for a Safe Drive
Park in Broadly Lit Areas: Pay attention to your surroundings and think twice while parking in an isolated place during the evening or night. Always opt for a well-lit and crowded area rather than an isolated place. Avoid parking near vans or trucks which may easily block your passage.
Lock Your Doors: Believe it or not, locking the doors is that basic point which should come first to mind when getting into your car. This is especially true if you get into a car that has individual door locks. You can close your windows at red lights or during high traffic conditions. A raised window keeps thieves out as there’s no easy way to open the unlocked doors to enter.
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Never leave your valuables in view: If you have your purse, laptop, mobile, or any other precious thing left in the passenger seat, you are increasing the chances of smash-and-grab thefts. It is always advisable to keep these things in the glove box or the boot.
Car Driving Tops for Women: GPS and Navigation
Using GPS make it easy to drive through unknown routes. The connected car device ensures that your live location is at all times shared with your loved ones. They can even see if you are surpassing the speed limit or leaving a trusted area.
Emergency Contacts: Keep your emergency contacts saved on your speed dial. This would include the local police, a family member or close friend, and of course, a number for roadside assistance. When there is an emergency, the real difference quick access makes can be lifesaving.
Dashcam: A dashcam can be installed onto the windshield of your car-3-channel especially, which captures views of the front, back, and inside. It can record all the activities around the car through an all-inclusive setup. In case someone is following you, it can record their face which would be valid evidence.
Moreover, the inside camera will help to track who enters and exits your car. Hyundai Exter, Renault Triber, and Renault Kiger are some of the models that come with factory-fitted dashcam.
Car Driving Tips for Women: Save these helpline numbers:
4. Police: 112
You can dial or message 112 for any type of emergency like police, ambulances, or fire. Or you can download the app ‘112 India’ from the Play Store or App Store. After hitting the panic button on that app, it will try to contact the nearest police station. And if you don’t take the call, they will track your location and reach the destination.
Distress Helpline: 1091 (just dial this number for immediate help)
National Commission for Woman Helpline: 7827170170
Safety Apps: As a woman, you must always have safety apps on your mobile phone. Such apps provide emergency alerts, location tracking, or even panic buttons.
Underrated Car Driving Tips for Women: Familiarize yourself with these apps as a precautionary measure while travelling. Officially sanctioned by the government, are Raksha, My Saftipin, and Smart 24×7. When the panic button of such apps is pressed by a user, the emergency contacts, the nearest police station, and the local hospital get alerted.
Install a Panic Button: When it is pressed, it transmits the wireless signal to the home console and alerts the monitoring staff of an emergency. They will then re-assess the situation and call your family, friends, or emergency contact. The panic button works even when your mobile battery is dead or you are in no network zone.
5. Defensive Driving Practice
Stay focused: Never use your mobile phone while driving because it can expose you to accidents and other criminal activities. As rightly said, ‘Nazar hati, Durghatna ghati, so never be distracted on the road and engage yourself in nothing that will distract you from driving.
Keep a long distance: Try to have as much distance from other vehicles on the road as can be managed. It provides you with the room and time to react to other traffic situations that may just pop up before you. This will also avoid aggressive drivers who might want to intimidate and harass you on the way.
Avoid Heated Arguments: If you encounter an aggressive driver, then keep a safe distance from them so that there is no fight. Garam khoon valo se duri hi behtar hai! Let them drive ahead
Do Not Stop for Strangers: This might be a very cruel one, but do not stop for strangers especially at night or in places with any people. We do not know their intentions, however. If still pressured to assist, contact the police and inform them about this situation.
Safe Drive: Conclusion
Other than these car driving tips for a safe drive, if someone is following you, then click the pictures or take videos and share them with somebody who can help you. Moreover, activate the SOS button on your mobile. By simply clicking the SOS button, all selected contacts would receive messages, pictures, and audio recordings in no time.
Wish, you a safe journey to every woman out there!
What else would you recommend for safety? Tell us in the comments below:
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