For a full professional and social life, today's woman will undoubtedly be moving about after dark.
Whether consuming alcohol or having a dry evening, getting home late at night can pose serious issues of safety out of her control.
Most women would agree they feel safest in a car, but does being enclosed in a vehicle protect against all threats to personal safety? Unfortunately, police caution that incidences of crime are specifically possible on public transportation, including taxis.
Being vigilant and aware of her surroundings is a must for women traveling alone after dark.
Here are some safety tips that all women should be aware of: 1.
Only get into taxis that are legally registered.
Be aware of what registered taxis look like, and don't get into any car that claims to be a taxi but doesn't have the proper registration and tags.
If a woman gets into an unregistered car, she is basically getting into an untraceable stranger's car, leading to an easier and targeted possible assault.
2.
Know the legitimate, reputable cab bookings in the city.
If visiting friends, she should ask for the number for the most reputable companies and stick to those cab bookings.
The drivers undergo more serious background checks and are traceable should anything strange happen.
3.
Be aware of your surroundings when ordering a cab.
If a woman is in a public place ordering a taxi, she should be cognizant and careful if and when specifying her home address.
To be safe, she should order the cab to pick her up from a public place and not give out her full name and address, to ensure listeners don't glean too much personal information.
4.
Make sure the taxi is yours before getting in.
Police warn against assuming a taxi that pulls up is the same one that has been ordered.
When ordering, a woman should ask the driver's name and what kind of car will be coming, which she can cross-check before hopping in or giving identifying information about herself.
5.
Sit in the back.
Keeping a generous distance between the woman and the driver is a smart way to avoid crime.
There will also be two doors from which to exit instead of just one.
6.
Keep the conversation professional.
While some taxi drivers are chatty and interesting, police advise women to keep the conversation on a professional level, especially when traveling alone at night.
By intentionally not allowing personal conversation to seem like an invitation to become over-familiar, a woman is less likely to find herself in a tight situation.
7.
Have house keys at the ready.
When arriving back home, a woman should have her keys easily accessible so that she can glide into her residence quickly and seamlessly instead of standing around in the dark, fiddling inside her purse.
If she feels especially safe with the driver, she can ask he not leave until she is safely inside the door.
8.
Always trust instincts.
If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Women are known for their keen instincts and intuition; there is no need to fight an urge to find a higher level of safety if she feels uncomfortable in a travel situation.
If a taxi feels wrong, don't get in, or get out early.
9.
Report all problems or incidences.
If something does go wrong, a woman can protect future passengers by reporting any crimes or incidences to the police.
She should get identifying information, like the registration number and driver's name to make a full report.