Parking Lot Safety For Women  

It is a nightmare scenario for many of us: the long, lonely trek across an unfriendly, dimly lit parking lot at night, and the fear of attack that comes with this scene. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to stay safe and you cross that dangerous territory on your own. Here are some parking lot safety tips for women, or anyone else who has to make the night trek on their own.

First, try not to make the trek so lonely

Many times it cannot be helped: you will simply have to cross that parking lot on your own. But if it can be helped at all, and many times it can be helped, try not to make that lonely trek so lonely. Pair up with another co-worker or student who has to walk the same route at roughly the same time. Statistics show that you are much less likely to be attacked if you are walking in a group, or at least not alone. If possible, meet up with someone who has to walk the parking lot at around the same time. Perhaps one of you can agree to "pick up" the other so that you can cross the parking lot together.

Get security to escort you to your car

Even if you are the shy type or you simply prefer to walk to your car alone, take advantage of security features offered by your company or school. Remember—that's what security is there for: to keep you safe, so take advantage of this offer. If you are a student, many campuses offer security escort services, which can be used if you get out late from class. If your company or school does not have a policy concerning security escort services, or your school does not offer these services and you wish they did, get together with other students or co-workers to ask or these services to be put in place. Chances are that if enough people ask or these security features, there is a good chance that you can get them.

Be prepared and focused

When you walk to the parking lot, are you paying attention to the task at hand, or are you busy jamming out to the tunes on your digital music player? Turn down the music, turn off the cell phone, and focus on the task at hand. The task at hand happens to be getting to your car safely. In order to achieve this, here are some easy tips that may seem practical and self-evident, but are often overlooked by frazzled workers and students. First, have your keys in your hand, ready to go at a moments notice. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to make sure that you get to your car safely and securely. Second, have your cell phone on, charged and at hand. You don't want to be talking into your cell phone because that can keep you distracted when you should be aware of your surroundings.

Plan ahead of your parking lot trek

If you know that you will be regularly parking in a lonely and dim parking lot, prepare yourself for this less than ideal reality. Pack a flashlight in your purse, or one of that miniature light pen that you can attach to your key ring. You may also want to attach a mace pepper spray to your key ring. Another good idea is to plan ahead of your parking lot trek. If you arrive during the daylight hours, try to get into the habit of parking your car under a light. Also, you should try to let someone know the route you take to your car.