How To Stay Safe When Parking Your Car

Everyone wants to feel safe, especially when they’re at their most vulnerable. Parking your car in a parking structure can be a bit intimidating, especially if you are returning to your vehicle after dark and you find the area mostly abandoned.

You don’t have to feel like your safety is at risk when you’re parking your car. Here are some tips on how you can stay safe getting to and from your vehicle.

Choose Where You Park Wisely

Different structures have different policies when it comes to security and human parking attendants. For example, in the UK car park management tends not to hire a lot of security, while in the US security is more common. When you’re choosing a parking structure, check and see what the security policy is and how late into the evening an attendant stays on staff. In a major metropolitan area, it’s usually not that difficult to find a parking structure with round the clock security staff.

Know The Neighborhood

One of the best security tips is to always be extremely familiar with your surroundings. The more aware you are, the less likely you’ll be to find yourself in a dangerous situation. Before parking your car, either on the street or in a structure, familiarize yourself with the neighborhood and your surroundings. If you know a neighborhood is dangerous at night, avoid parking on the street and instead find a parking structure.

Go In Groups

If you’re attending an event with other people, it’s always a good idea to make walking back to your car a group effort. Unsavory types are much less likely to prey on people in a group than they are to prey on individuals who are by themselves. The less vulnerable you make yourself look, the less likely you are to be attacked.

Don’t Wait Around In Your Car

Once you get into your vehicle, you should promptly lock your doors and start your engine. Car jackers tend to target people who are sitting in their cars, preoccupied with their cell phones or a document. The faster you’re in motion, the less likely you are to be targeted.

If you follow these smart tips, you can stay safe while parking your car. Remember, personal safety is all about preparation and an awareness of your surroundings. It always pays off to take precautions and be just a little paranoid.