LIFESTYLE NEWS - As Women’s Month draws attention to women’s safety, it is an opportunity to look at how women can feel more prepared and secure when they are away from home.

Basic precautions such as locking your car doors and keeping the windows closed while driving are important. 

However, personal security also means thinking ahead about what you would do if something did not feel right and ensuring you can access help quickly when needed.

Having a plan can provide an additional layer of protection for you and your family.

Here are eight practical security measures worth incorporating into your routine whenever you leave home.

1. Have a plan if you suspect you are being followed

Think about how you would respond if you believed another vehicle or person was following you, particularly when driving home.

Do not continue towards your home or stop outside your gate while waiting for it to open. Instead, keep driving to a police station, security point or busy public area where other people are present.

If possible, contact your security provider while you are still driving. Remain inside your vehicle and keep the doors locked until you are confident that the situation is safe.

Knowing what you will do before an incident occurs can help you respond more calmly under pressure.

2. Create a safe routine for arriving home

The driveway or entrance to your home can be a vulnerable point. You are approaching a predictable destination, slowing down or stopping, and may be distracted while operating a gate.

Before arriving, take a moment to assess the surrounding area. If something looks suspicious, do not feel compelled to enter your property. Keep driving and reassess the situation from a safer location.

If you are arriving home late or feel uncomfortable, consider asking your security provider for an escort onto the property. Where available, a quick perimeter check can also provide additional reassurance.

External beams, cameras, perimeter detection and monitored surveillance can help identify suspicious activity before someone reaches the house.

3. Always leave yourself an escape route when driving

Avoid unnecessarily boxing your vehicle in.

At traffic lights, gates, drive-throughs and in slow-moving traffic, leave enough space between your vehicle and the one in front to manoeuvre if necessary.

That space can provide an escape route if someone approaches your vehicle or another vehicle deliberately attempts to block you in.

4. Treat vehicle maintenance as part of your personal security

A vehicle breakdown can leave you stranded in an unfamiliar or vulnerable location.

Regular vehicle maintenance, keeping your fuel level up, ensuring your phone is charged and having roadside assistance available can all reduce the risk of being caught in an unsafe situation.

If another motorist indicates that there may be a problem with your vehicle, avoid stopping immediately in an isolated location. Where possible, drive carefully to a busy public area, security point or other populated location before getting out.

5. Think about your return journey when choosing where to park

A convenient parking space is not necessarily the safest one.

When parking, consider what the area will look like when you return. Is the vehicle isolated? Is it next to an enclosed stairwell or hidden behind larger vehicles? Will you be visible to security personnel, cameras or people entering and leaving the building?

If you feel uncomfortable when returning to your vehicle, go back to a secure area and ask security personnel for an escort.

6. Stay alert when your attention is occupied

Everyday activities can temporarily reduce your awareness of your surroundings.

Loading groceries, putting luggage into the boot, securing a child in a car seat or searching through a handbag can all divert your attention.

Before becoming occupied, take a moment to look around and assess who is nearby. Keep valuable belongings close and position yourself so that you can move away quickly if necessary.

7. Make sure you can access help wherever you are

Personal security should not stop when you leave the protection of your home.

Think about what assistance is available when you are travelling, shopping, exercising, attending appointments or working away from your usual location.

Mobile panic response services, roadside assistance, trusted contacts and clear emergency procedures through a private security provider can provide an additional layer of support when fixed security measures are no longer around you.

8. Use crime intelligence to make informed decisions

Understanding crime patterns in the areas and along the routes you regularly use can help you make more informed personal security decisions.

Crime intelligence can provide insight into patterns around neighbourhoods, workplaces, shopping centres and commonly travelled routes.

Rather than simply asking whether an area is dangerous, consider what types of incidents are being reported, when they occur and whether particular patterns are emerging.

This information can help you identify situations where you may need to adjust your routine or take additional precautions.

Build a layered personal security plan

No single security measure can guarantee your safety. Plans can change, calls may not connect, vehicles can break down and circumstances can develop unexpectedly.

A stronger personal security approach combines everyday awareness with planned responses, predetermined safe locations and reliable access to assistance.

By thinking ahead and building several layers of protection into your routine, you can be better prepared to respond if a situation feels unsafe.

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