We want you to be safe.
Our intention is not to scare our valued female customers but to help women drivers learn how to be safe and secure when driving alone. If you have other tips to add let us know!
It’s all about opportunity…
Rape, carjacking, and robbery are often crimes of opportunity, in which the perpetrator scouts areas where no witnesses are present, identifies a vulnerable target, and waits for the moment when his target lowers her guard. The most common locations where many of these crimes occur are:
• When you are stopped at a deserted intersection
• When your are parked in your own driveway
• When you park at the far corner of a parking lot, away from parking attendants or entrances
• When you park on any street in ( insert your city here )
A simple lapse of caution, such as failing to lock your car door before starting your engine is an ideal opportunity for a desperate aggressor to swiftly approach your vehicle from the blind spot in your side view mirror, open your door, pull you from the vehicle, or enter from the passenger side.
We women spend a ton of time driving, running errands and driving to and from work. While doing so we need to be alert to perpetrators that commit rapes, abductions, carjacking, or worse.
The Moment of Distraction
Rapists, carjackers and thieves look for potential targets who are alone, unaware, and vulnerable. A woman who is preoccupied removing her child from the rear seat without checking her environment first, will be completely surprised when the aggressor strikes. The woman who fails to ask for the attendant to escort her to the far end of a dark parking garage is not aware of the opportunity for foul play that lurks there.
A consequence of our busy lives is the fact that we often multitask while driving. Because we are not paying attention to our environment and fully attending to the task of driving, perpetrators are finding it easier to overcome a distracted driver who is stopped, talking on a cell phone or applying cosmetics.
By the time a predator has made himself visible to his target, it is often too late to evade him. The best advice is to heighten awareness of potential risk before you place yourself in a position of no escape.
Park in good light and in plain view.
It is important that women park in areas with good light and high visibility, both for you and people passing by. Avoid parking next to vans or other vehicles which can harbor perpetrators who can quickly emerge from a sliding side door and grab you. People hiding under vehicles with high ground clearance can easily subdue a hapless victim.
What to do outside your vehicle.
We ladies love to shop, and sadly, parking lots, especially during the holiday season is when a large amount of crime happens. If you are confronted by an abductor while near your vehicle, drop your shopping bags/packages and run, making a lot of noise. Doing so will cause many abductors to stop right there.
Have your keys handy, enter your vehicle quickly and lock it!
While walking to your vehicle make sure to have your keys handy, not buried at the bottom of the amazing carry all purse you just got! That time it takes to find your keys gives a criminal a few extra moments, which is all that is needed to complete the job of mugging you, abducting you, or stealing your car.
Be Alert!
If someone is on the passenger side of a vehicle close to where you will enter your car, and that vehicle is idling, be careful. Go back to the store and ask an employee or someone you feel is safe to help you to your car.
Worst Case Scenario
If abducted, always avoid going anywhere with them, even if they say they will not harm you. Once you are in their control and with them in their comfort, you have very few options left. If you find there is someone in your backseat as you are driving, slam on your brakes to throw them off balance, put your vehicle in park, get out of the vehicle and run. Get to the nearest gas station and call 911.
Keep your cell phone handy
It’s great to be helpful to people in need, but be careful when doing so, especially on the road. If you see a vehicle that looks possibly broke down and someone flagging you for help, call the highway patrol or 911 to report their location and let them help the person in need. Don’t put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, but help by making the call to the police for them.
If pulled over by an unmarked police officer
We are all raised to respect and trust the law authority, so most women getting pulled over do as they say. However, still be aware. If you don’t think you have done anything wrong or the officer just looks odd to you, you can call the police and ask them if there are unmarked cars in the local area. If you are still not sure things seem right, turn on your dome light, and acknowledge the officer so they know you see them. Then drive to a well lit, public area such as a gas station or supermarket and then come to your complete stop. Before rolling down the window or getting out of your vehicle, ask for his/her official identification card, not just their badge. Call the local police station for verification. If the person refuses to show identification or acts suspiciously then call 911.
Note: Be sure the person is dressed in uniform and that all of the uniform parts match. Even in unmarked vehicles, police are generally still in uniform rather than plain clothes for traffic patrol.
Know where you are going
Women are most vulnerable when they are lost. Make sure you map out your route online with clear prints outs or via your GPS system before you leave. Let friends and family know where you are going – work, school, errands, etc. when and where you will be expected.
Know your vehicle!
It is important to familiarize yourself with your GPS, anti-theft, and other protective features of your vehicle. Stealth tracking will alert authorities in certain emergency circumstances. It is imperative to keep your vehicle well-maintained and learn how to check tire pressure and vital fluids before you leave on a trip. Our female auto professtionals are some of the best in Portland, and we more than happy to show you how to use your vehicles safety features, check fluids and more, just ask!
One of the most treasured shopping occasions for me this time of year, is holiday gift shopping for the special people in my life. I just love to see the reactions I receive when I put a lot of thought and effort into a gift. I just love to give!… and Portland Oregon is the shopping city to find that perfect gift! Gift cards can be so cliche nowadays ; ) Think outside of the box in 2009 and put some thought into it! (I find that simply listening to a person talk over a period can reveal some of those special gift ideas… it’s almost like a cheating on test.)
