Driving Safety Tips:
Outsmarting Criminals
FAQ

Learn driving safety tips and survival strategies that could save your life – and things you should never do while driving.

Follow-Home / Robbery

Upon arriving home, the Fort Bend TX family had just pulled their car into their driveway when a man approached them asking for directions. As the father walked toward the man to help him, the man pulled a gun, robbed him, and then he and the getaway driver fled. The victim believes they'd been followed home.

Follow-Home / Home Invasion 

As they arrived home, a couple saw a car drive by their house. The driver looked like a man they'd seen earlier that night. Just before dawn, that man, Tracy Lee Harden, broke into their home. The husband and wife then both fought him until he fled.

Make it a habit to circle the block before you go home. If you think you're being followed, never pull into your driveway. Your driveway is a trap where you are boxed in. Keep driving to a police station or a busy gas station and blow the horn non-stop.

Driveway Carjacking Escape Two men attempted to carjack Tommie Nell Hannaford in her driveway when she returned from the grocery store. One man pointed a gun at the window and demanded her car. Instead of complying, Hannaford blew her horn, put the car in reverse and raced out of the driveway while he fired a shot at the vehicle.

She's lucky her car's motor was still running. Never turn off your motor until you look around and feel sure that you won't need to flee. See Avoiding Carjacking and Escaping Carjacking.

GETTING IN OR OUT OF YOUR CAR

Predators know that they can get your keys, car, and cash (and maybe want you too) whenever you're in or near your car. While going to or from your car, make it a habit to hold pepper spray at the ready. Also have a personal security alarm (noisemaker or screamer) – or keep your thumb on your car key’s Emergency Button to blow the car's horn. Also see Parking Lot Safety.

Do the same whether you’re in a parking lot or at home – whenever you’re near your car.

HIGHWAY REST STOPS

Highway rest areas, remotely located and oftentimes deserted, provide ideal settings for prostitution, drug deals and criminals hunting for targets.

Females commit ~20% of violent crimes (per the FBI). Some females commit crimes alone, or in groups, or help male partners. So evaluate ALL strangers by their behavior and red flags.

► Know the name of the rest area or the closest mile marker in case you need to call police.

► Avoid parking close to trucks that could prevent witnesses from seeing your car – predators seek that kind of cover.

► Older children and adults should have someone go with them to the public lavatory or wait outside. If a child under age 12 is of the opposite sex, knock on the door, stick your head in to check it out, and then guard the door. Or take a younger child to your lavatory with you – just make an announcement as you enter.

► Try to avoid using the lavatory at an isolated and "empty" rest stop. Instead, try to use the lavatory at a restaurant or convenience store.

► Instead of napping at a rest area (or on the side of the road), find an RV campground. For a small fee you can nap in your car with reasonable security.

► Get your child a noisemaker alarm (the “pin-pull” type) to be attached to a belt. See Personal Security Alarm (noisemaker or screamer). Caution: to be used with the utmost parental discretion, supervision, and attention.

► Never leave your child unattended for even a moment. If you get separated within a crowd of adults, crouch down and look for your child's feet – they’ll be easier to spot. Also see How to Keep Track of Your Kid at a Crowded Event and Use a 'Family Whistle' to Quickly Find Your Kid in a Crowd. If no luck, loudly yell, "Help! My child is missing!" People will respond.

► Never leave your child unattended in a car – especially with the keys in the ignition. If ever you see such an appalling violation, call the police immediately. Foolish parents need a harsh lesson.

IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN

A stranded motorist is a prime target for criminals – like hyenas spotting a lame antelope. Stay IN your car as you call for help on your cell phone. You might hang a white rag on the side-view mirror as a distress signal.  

If anyone offers to help (through your slightly opened window) just stay in your locked car. See Criminal Minds - Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.  If anyone offers you (or your companion) a ride, do not accept it. Do not leave the relative safety of your locked car. And do not wander off unless you know where you’re going. Gamble in a casino – not in your life.

ROAD RAGE - Don't Add Fuel to the Fire

Victims of road rage often (roughly one-third of the time) escalate the danger by taunting an already agitated hothead. If you can’t control your anger, don’t expect other drivers to control theirs.

Always assume other drivers are armed lunatics (whether armed with a gun or a car). Don’t provoke anyone to pull the trigger or swerve his car at you.

If you’re in the fast lane, and someone wants to pass you, get out of the way! Do not try to enforce the law by impeding someone who’s in a rush.

Maybe the road rager is late for work, desperate to reach a lavatory, or whatever. You do not know and you are not a cop. Get out of the way and let the police deal with it.

If you drive while talking on a cell phone, drive extra carefully, make it brief, then drive. And do not send text messages while driving – it's as bad as drunk driving. Pull your car over to the side of the road or in a parking lot, and stop to text.

If you are a road rager, learn to be patient with dumb drivers. They'll make you crazy and you will get into big trouble. You can’t avoid them or control them – but you can control your reaction to them. Remember that anger is just one letter shy of danger. Find more safety tips at Road Rage.

SUMMARY of Driving Safety Tips

► Circle the block before you go home – to see if anyone is following you. If you think you're being followed, never pull into your driveway and get boxed in. Keep driving to a police station or a busy gas station and blow the horn non-stop.

► When parking, look around carefully before turning off your car's motor and exiting.

► While going to or from your car, hold pepper spray at the ready. Also have a personal security alarm (or keep your thumb on your car key’s emergency button).

► Know that highway rest areas are prime hunting grounds for criminals.

► Females commit ~20% of violent crimes (per the FBI). Some may seem friendly at first, commit crimes alone, or in groups, or help male partners. So evaluate ALL strangers by their behavior and red flags.

► Also see Parking Lot Safety.

► Lock your car doors the instant you enter your car and keep your windows closed – then immediately drive away.

► To avoid carjackings: always be aware of your surroundings and have an escape route. If a suspicious person approaches, blare the horn or drive away. If it's too late, give up your property without resistance. See Avoiding Carjacking.

► To avoid the road rage of another driver: drive courteously and respond passively to an aggressive driver.

► See Car Security - Ambushes for more driving safety tips.

NOTICE: This non-profit website is for informational purposes only and is drawn from the bibliography and USDOJ. Use the information at your own risk. See disclaimers.

Crime-Safety-Security > Car Security Overview > Driving Safety Tips

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