It’s pushing dusk, the street lamps are coming on, and you still have a mile to walk before you get home. The road isn’t very busy and the street is lined with a thick row of trees on one side. You may start getting the willies and looking over your shoulder as you walk. You could swear on your life that you feel somebody watching you from the dark trees. You start running to get to home and out of your perceived danger.
There are lots of ways to stay safe when you are walking at night. The easiest way to avoid danger in the darkness is to not walk alone. If at all possible, walk with a friend, or choose a different time to go on a trek; the middle of the afternoon perhaps?
Simple Steps to Stay Safe
So what are some steps to implement if you do plan to go a walk alone (these can even be useful during a daytime stroll)?
- Always tell someone where you are going, where you are leaving from, when you should arrive at the destination, and when you should arrive home. If someone is accountable and aware of your whereabouts, they will be able to raise the alarm if you don’t show up.
- Walk with a buddy or a group if you can. Someone will be less likely to attack you if there are lots of witnesses and a large group of people that might fight back.
- Don’t walk at dusk/twilight or at daybreak, and between the times of midnight and 3 a.m. These times have the highest risk of pedestrian accidents, typically due to poorer visibility. After midnight is when most bars close, which increases the chance of intoxicated drivers being on the road.
- Carry a whistle; it can be on a necklace or in your hands. If you feel you are in danger, you can sound the alarm with your whistle. Hopefully, someone is in the vicinity that can respond.
- Don’t walk in a secluded area. And stick to sidewalks if they have them. You are less likely to be attacked by someone if you are in a highly visible area. This means avoiding trails and empty neighborhood streets.
- Don’t wear earbuds or headphones while you run. This gives off the image that you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings. An attacker could sneak up without you hearing them and they would know that you couldn’t hear them. With limited visibility due to the darkness, you need to have your ears free to hear what is in front of and behind you.
- Change up your routine. It gives you a little more protection if you choose a different route and different times to go walking each day.
- Take self-defense classes. This isn’t a necessity, but why not? If it could help you in an emergency, then it is worth it.
- Carry some form of weapon that you know how to use. I have been advised against carrying pepper spray because even a gust of wind in the wrong direction will leave you immobilized. Friends have carried fixed blade knives in a sheath around a tear away necklace.
Keeping all of these tips in mind can help keep you safer during a nighttime walk. The world can be a scary place, but it doesn’t mean we should stop living life because of the dangers. It just means making smarter decisions about how we live this life and taking the necessary precautions to help keep ourselves safe.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of US Patriot Tactical.
