I have decided to write about some safety trips, as I drive a 40' motorhome all over the eastern half of the US, and there have been some very eventful experiences over the years. When I speak to others about traveling safely, I am always shocked at the danger people put themselves into, without giving it a second thought, many times for the sake of vanity.
Here are some tips:
1. Gas stations -
- always park in well lit areas where a camera is posted on you, or as close to the attendants station as possible.
- NEVER chose a gas station where YOU are the only customer, drive on to the next one even if it costs you more. (it could cost you your life, I know)
- NEVER pay with cash, always use a credit/debit card even if it means you have to go to another store and purchase some.
- When possible, always purchase a vehicle that has the gas tank on the same side as the drivers side.
- Always lock your vehicle when you get out to pump gas.
- NEVER have your purse/wallet/etc on the seat or even underneath the front seats. Have them covered up and somewhere else.
- NEVER get into conversations with anyone beyond your immediate needs. If someone wishes to engage with you, this is how YOU get set up for a crime, because it's part of the "warming" you up where you recognize and may even trust someone.
- traveling with someone else. Keep a walking stick handy, have that person also get out of the car with the walking stick, using it to walk with. It will deter possible thieves, as they know when they see it, you "could" use it to keep people away. It sends a message without sending a message, and having a 2nd person "standing" guard speaks silent volumes. Especially in areas you are not familiar with.
- if a female: never wear girly colored clothing when traveling. the more gender neutral the better. Have long hair, tie it up, and put on a hat to cover it up. If anything you are wearing is the least bit provocative or feminine YOU ARE sending a huge message and no amount of explaining to an officer later on (if you live) that "you said no" will undo the damage.
- See someone needing help? Only when you are in your vehicle and IF you feel safe enough, roll down a window and ask if you can call someone for them. If not, move on.
- When leaving your vehicle to pump gas - ALWAYS have your cell phone in your hand, and 911 pre-dialed in, requiring only a push of one button to activate it.
- always make some sort of contact with a station worker before pumping gas. Call them on the call button, wave, you name it. Don't worry about irritating them, just say, you wanted to make sure the button worked if you needed it. Don't be a nobody.
2. Make sure you have GPS enabled on your tracking devices.
3. NEVER drive over the speed limit, appear like you are "searching" for an address, or similar.
4. Do you tend to be a road rage type person? Get over it, because you never know what the other driver may feel like, and I have seen horrific things down to each other on the road.
5. NEVER EVER EVER TALK ON YOUR CELLPHONE. No matter what, I see people doing this, and making the most stupid dangerous driving errors on the road. Here is the rule of thumb. Your cellphone rings or you decide you need to talk to someone....PULL OVER, period.
6. Always, check your directions before ever turning the key in the ignition each time you stop. Use your GPS system as a back-up to already knowing where you are going.
7. Always let someone not in the vehicle with you know when you leave and when you arrive.
8. Always fill up whenever your tank hits the 1/2 way mark NO MATTER WHAT.
I wish everyone safe travels to your shows.
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What is a GOOHF card?
I carry GOOHF cards and give them to police officers, after asking if they are trouble makers. Works for teens also.
This is very good advice and has definitely make an impression to be extra careful. I was doing the Cincinnati Summerfaire last yr and it's the same day as my birthday. My wonderful friends decided to help me "celebrate" and bought me a hickory walking stick as a gift, and haha a joke! Now I will always bring it with. Guess they didn't realize what a good gift it has become. Oh and of course to help my ailing body.!
Jackie if you are looking for a good weapon to carry MagLite makes a 6 battery flashlight. it's very heavy and very solid and flashlights aren't illegal.
Carol, I always am afraid someone is going to come into my hotel room at night (it happened once). I have thought of buying this gadget you put under the door. It looks like a door stop. I think it is an alarm and it goes off when it is moved. Do you have any ideas on Hotel safety? I think most people here have to use hotels when they travel. That might be a good topic to bring up here.
Carol, thank you for taking the time to share this safety info with us. My husband and I were both athletes (distance runners) when we were young and not so scared of things like we are now. You realize you aren't as tough or strong as you used to be. You realize that your age makes you a target. My hubby is always trying to slip something into the car for protection. He has slipped an ax in (once when I was driving across the bridge to Canada!), an starter's pistol, a billy club. Well, we found out it is illegal to have a billy club in your car. So, I am going to tell him about the stick idea. I think he will like that and it sounds like a good idea. An idea we can't be arrested for. :-)
Not a bad idea to install a sliding bolt on the inside of your vehicle doors. Like a large screen door or barn door lock. Down low, below the reach of the windows.
I worked for 22 years alone in the field as an exploration geologist in most of the western states, some eastern sates, Canada and Mexico. I encountered all sorts of characters and coots, some waving around a 30-30, and I've been bitten by ranchers' dogs. I wasn't paranoid then and I don't like traveling today with a sense of paranoia as an artist. My take on all of this is overkill for me, but might not be for others. My method is to be aware of your surroundings and avoid anything questionable, i.e. I would drive to the next town if the only place to eat was a bar/restaurant with a bunch a Harley hogs parked around it. The one time I felt really uneasy about my surroundings was going to dinner in NYC Chinatown. I do a lot of holster work for ladies carrying concealed hand guns. Ladies if you feel uneasy traveling alone with valuable art, take a concealed carry class, LEARN THE LAW, get your permit, and practice at the range. FYI, I am not a pro-gun nut, more or less just the opposite. FYI, You can get ladies guns in pink and other designer colors too LOL.
Many situations a victim is in, there is nothing they can do but live through it. That is not the intent of my information - mine is directed at traveling safely on the road.
There are extremely painful situations where the victim lives with it the rest of their lives, no matter what anyone says, go get counseling, etc thinking that will make it all go away, as you know full well - it never goes away, you are permanently changed for the rest of your life. Those who have never been through such a situation are always filled with much advice and Monday morning quarterbacking, and it's very painful to be the recipient of such "advice" and/or scrutinizing no matter what. So many don't realize you share your story because you want justice, you wish to help others not get in a similar situation, you want the nightmares to go away, the fear of hearing sounds in your house when no sounds should be there, or sometimes you need someone to mourn and lend a comforting ear and hug if you can handle even being touched at that point. So many times others have no clue how senseless and painful their remarks are, rendering victims feeling victimized/ scrutinized all over again.
My posting was specifically geared towards road warriors which brings on very specific and hopefully controllable situations. And, all I can do is try to make others be more aware so they can be as safe as possible when doing so. There were situations I got into because I was too tired, and I should not have been traveling into strange territory at those times because my defenses were down. I would not have gotten into that most recent situation if I hadn't have been so tired, and I painfully learned. Afterwards, when I was going over the situation, piece by piece with a counselor, I realized how I had slowly but surely been set-up, by my willingness to help (see lifeguard/ski patrol training to "help") and because my defenses were down, I was almost the victim of who knows what, along with my business partner and our dogs...had they not done what came naturally to each of them - sit there at the door, hoping I was bringing treats in to them, never thinking for a minute their presence was the difference of living as I had known versus who knows what.
Now, I have changed how I travel during parts of each show so I hopefully don't get myself into that situation again. And, if my comments can help others "consider" what they do, become more observant, etc, then mission accomplished.
When traveling on the road, you are in strange territory always. And many people think there is an invisible fence around themselves...and there simply isn't.
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