How to ensure your safety while you travel alone?

The world is not always a safe place, and a woman alone, can be vulnerable. Especially there are many incidents are reported while travelling alone, irrespective of the place and time. most of us are travelling alone during a trip to office, or back to native, or when we miss a bus/train, or even from office. Many of us are Autorikshaws for travel, and recently many security incidents were reported related to auto journey.

here is some very practical tips which can ensure a safe trip, while you travel alone.

1. Before going anywhere know your Route.

2. Use Pre-paid Auto fecility if there is one. They have responsible record keeping of all Taxis.

3. If you have to use a Auto Rickshaw, be careful before entering, For the general ˜feel™ of the driver, Auto, etc. Talk to hi before you enter, like ask him where some destination is, or what is the charge, etc. if you feel the person seems O.K then only enter.

3. when in the Auto be careful of the travel, take a note of the Auto Regn.no., the route he is taking, his behavior in the ride, etc , have a Self defense tool handy in case you need to use it. Always travel in an authorized mode of taxi,  like Uber, Ola and govt authorized taxis like pink taxi and pre-paid taxis or you can drive a car on your own by renting from Easyrentcars.

4. If he takes a wrong route, Say Stop! tell him in a calm but firm manner you want to go in the particular route and not any other, even if he says the new route is ˜better™, shorter, good road, etc. stick to your original route.

5. if he obeys you fine. if not dial an emergency number ( your friend, family, colleague, superior,Emergency Helpline, or even the police helpline) have a Pepper Spray, Mini Baton or mini flashlight, or any self defense tool ready and calmly explain to the called person the Rickshaw No., Location and situation.

6. this would normally get some sense into any perpetrator, but if he is still persistent, you will have to become bold ( even if you are not brave or bold it doesn’t matter, just pretend that you are, no one can tell the difference) and do any of the following;

a. Aim the pepper spray at him and say (in a firm tone) œStop the Rickshaw in . place / right here, or i will use this pepper spray repeat the warning a few time, make sure he understands that you are serious and you have the power to put him ˜out of action™. if he concedes good!, if not , just hold the spay in an angle, away from direct wind blowing it back on your face, away from his hand™s reach and SPRAY AT SHORT INTERVALS ENSURING IT IS GETTING ON HIS EYES OR FACE OR EVEN EAR. this will take care of him for good. as soon as he stops the rickshaw get out and run in the opposite direction of the rickshaw and get help.

b. Jab your Mini Baton/Persuader into his ear while you hold his head/neck with a back grab and demand to stop the vehicle. once he stops thrust it further into his ear incapacitating him further. get out, run in the opposite direction , get help. ( also get him some medical attention if possible). {a pen, pencil or any such instrument also may be used to get similar result, take a self defense lesson you™ll know how}

c. Grab and thrust your fingers into his eyes, trying to pull it out with out mercy. when he stops, get out, run in opposite direction, get help.

7. Once you are safe in your Home/Office/or other safe location, make a complaint to the police, file a First Information Statement (FIS) on the basis of which the Police will register a First Information Report (FIR)and start investigation on the matter. from there they will take care of the situation.

Be calm, Be Prepared, Nothing Bad will Happen to You.

Even if you take a 2-4 hour Basic Course in Self Defense you can do this and better to protect yourself from life threatening situations.

N.B.Remember if you allow yourself to be taken to a place of his choice in his vehicle, without any resistance or escape, there is no saying how you will suffer or survive it. Law and Society demands you to take care of your own safety. Self Defense is a legal right.