How to keep yourself and your car safe while driving and parking

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When you drive alone in a town or a city, especially at night or early in the morning, it is always a good idea to consider your personal security. Obviously, crime is always a concern when driving in a risky area. The important thing to remember about personal security of life and properties, it starts with you. Below are some tips that will help you maintain your security when driving.

 

Central car lock: Make it impossible for criminals to force themselves into your car by keeping your central car lock system on.

Tinted windows: Tinted glass can be useful when you don’t want people to know who and what is inside your car. If you know that you move about with luxury goods in your car or if you are a celebrity, ensure that you tint your windows.

Don’t Stop When Waved Down By Stranger: If you are out driving at night, it is not a good idea to stop your vehicle when waved down by a stranger in an isolated area. If you do so you could fall victim of organized crime.

Be cautious about offering a stranger a lift. This one seems obvious, but  If you must offer a stranger a lift then you should be cautious.  

Don’t Move About With the Original Documents of Your Car: Car snatchers will do all it takes to steal your car once they know that you move about with the car’s original documents. Move with photocopies and keep the original in a secured place.

Install Car Tracking Device in Your Car: You could install a car tracking device in your car in case it is stolen.

Alarm and immobiliser: Most cars these days have an alarm and immobiliser but it is a good idea not to forget arming the alarm even when leaving the car for a brief period.

Carry your drivers licence: As a driver, it is mandatory to be in possession of your driving license when driving.

Keep your keys safe:  this goes for your extra or spare keys too. Don’t leave them in the car or on an entrance table in the house. Secure them in an out of the way place such as a drawer or somewhere safe that is out of sight so a burglar can’t easily find them and drive away in your car. Don’t leave your keys in the car while you pay for your fuel at the service station.

Parking at Stadiums and Concert events: Be careful when you park your car at sporting events or concerts. Cars parked around stadiums and away from secured parking can be a dead giveaway to thieves that you’re going to be away from your car for a set period of time.

 

When parking on the street: try to park within sight of a busy store or hotel entrance, under a streetlamp, near a busy corner or out in the open away from things that might provide shelter to a thief (like thick or low-hanging trees). The busier the street, the better.

 

Don’t leave anything visible in the car: Remove or lock up any really valuable items. Never leave mobile phones, sat navs, bags, wallets or other valuable items on display in the car. If you have to leave your stuff in the car, make sure you pack it all away in the booth.

 

Make your car look protected:

A huge part of the job an alarm does is to give a visual warning to a thief that the car has security measures. Make sure you put the alarm warning stickers on the window and the LED warning light in the dash is fitted. (And if you don’t want to get an alarm you can buy these little extras separately.) Make it a habit to always lock your car doors, in your driveway.

 

A neat car is less likely to be burglarized: A car that is filled with jackets or beach towels that appear to be covering items of value suggests that valuables may under the pile of jackets or towels. If a potential thief sees nothing but car upholstery, he or she is less likely to be curious about what might be hidden in the car.

 

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
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