Personal safety is a concern that transcends gender, yet women often face unique safety challenges in their everyday lives. These challenges become even more pronounced when weather changes and the nights get darker. These transitions affect visibility, mobility, and environmental factors, making everything a little more treacherous. While personal safety is important for everyone, the risks can be more pronounced for women, particularly in low-light conditions or in poorly lit areas. In this guide, we’ll delve into various seasonal personal safety challenges that women encounter and how innovative solutions, such as personal safety features like SafeKab’s ‘SafeWalk‘, can help address these concerns. By empowering women with the right tools and knowledge, SafeKab aims to help solo travellers protect themselves better.
The Impact of Seasonal Changes on Personal Safety
Daylight Saving Time and Reduced Light Hours
One of the most significant seasonal changes that affect personal safety is the move to daylight saving time. As we “fall back” in autumn, daylight hours shorten, meaning more people, particularly women, are commuting or walking home in the dark. This reduction in natural light can make certain areas feel more dangerous, increasing the chances of accidents, assaults, or other incidents.
Personal safety apps like SafeKab play an important role here, offering real-time location sharing, and emergency alerts that help mitigate the risks brought about by the changing seasons. These tools can be especially useful for women who find themselves commuting during low-light conditions, offering both peace of mind and tangible safety features.
Lighting Issues and Their Effect on Safety
The Threat of Poorly Lit Areas
Poor lighting is an evergreen safety concern but becomes particularly pressing during seasons when daylight is limited. Poorly lit streets, car parks, and public spaces can harbour hidden dangers, making it difficult to spot potential threats or navigate safely. This concern disproportionately affects women, especially those walking alone or commuting at night.
Maintaining situational awareness is crucial in poorly lit areas. It’s important to stay alert, avoid distractions (like looking at your phone), and take proactive steps such as carrying a personal alarm or whistle to deter would-be attackers. Some safety apps like SafeKab’s SafeWalk feature allow users to alert trusted contacts if they find themselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation.
Inadequate lighting isn’t just a problem for women—it’s a public safety issue that can affect anyone. However, since women often face higher risks of harassment or violence, they must remain vigilant, especially during the darker months.
Dark Commutes Don’t Have To Be Scary
Dark commutes—whether by foot, bicycle, or public transportation—pose additional challenges to personal safety. Women commuting during early morning hours or after work may find themselves traversing poorly lit or deserted areas, which can increase their sense of vulnerability.
To combat these challenges, women should consider taking well-lit routes, even if it means a slightly longer commute. It’s also beneficial to share commuting plans with a trusted friend or family member. By using location-sharing features offered by SafeWalk, you can give loved ones real-time access to your whereabouts, providing an additional layer of security.
When planning your commute, try to stick to areas with good lighting and steady foot traffic. If possible, make arrangements to travel with others or carpool to further reduce your vulnerability.
Utilising Personal Safety Apps to Enhance Protection
Location Sharing
One of the standout features of personal safety apps is location-sharing. This tool allows women, especially those travelling alone, to share their live location with trusted individuals, adding an extra layer of security during low-light hours or on dark commutes.
SOS and Emergency Alert Features
Perhaps one of the most critical features of any personal safety app is the ability to send SOS alerts. In moments of distress, it may not always be possible to make a phone call or visibly indicate that you’re in danger. SOS features enable users to send discreet alerts to emergency contacts or even local authorities with just a single button press.
SafeWalk integrates a sophisticated SOS feature, which can silently alert designated individuals or services when a user feels threatened. Familiarising yourself with this feature can be a literal lifesaver, especially during those dark commutes or in poorly lit areas.
Users are encouraged to practice using the app’s emergency features to ensure they can act swiftly if necessary. Whether it’s the threat of an attacker or an accident on a poorly lit street, having access to a one-touch emergency call could be the difference between danger and safety.
Practical Tips for Seasonal Personal Safety
In addition to using personal safety apps, there are several practical tips women can incorporate into their routines to increase their safety during seasonal transitions and low-light conditions.
Carry Personal Safety Devices
Personal safety devices such as alarms or whistles are small yet effective tools that can make a significant difference in emergencies. When activated, they emit a loud sound designed to attract attention and potentially scare off attackers. SafeWalk’s SOS button does just this: emits a loud noise when pressed to deter any would-be attacker.
Pairing physical safety devices with digital tools creates a multi-layered approach to personal safety. For example, if your alarm fails to deter a threat, your SOS feature on SafeWalk can ensure help is on the way.
Stick to Well-Lit Routes and Avoid Shortcuts
While it may be tempting to take shortcuts, especially in cold or inclement weather, it’s usually safer to stick to well-lit paths with plenty of foot traffic. Even if a route takes longer, the increased visibility and likelihood of passing by other pedestrians can significantly reduce your risk.
Always trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to change your route or head to a more populated area. It’s always better to prioritise your safety over convenience.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
In low-light conditions, situational awareness becomes even more critical. Stay off your phone, avoid wearing headphones, and keep your senses tuned to your environment. Criminals often look for distracted targets, so being alert is one of the most effective ways to avoid becoming one.
Personal safety apps can assist in maintaining awareness by sending alerts when you’re approaching unsafe areas. Combined with vigilance, these tools provide comprehensive protection.
Use SafeWalk to Keep on Track and Safe When Walking to Work
SafeWalk allows you to share your walk to or from work with a loved one through GPS tracking so they can keep an eye on your journey every step of the way. We have also developed a ‘SOS button’ that lives right on your phone screen, so should you feel vulnerable you can press the button and notify both the local SafeKab office and a loved one that you need help for any reason. With our FREE SafeWalk function, you never need to walk alone again!
It’s great for keeping you safe and helping ensure you don’t get lost if you’re travelling in a city or town in the UK you don’t know!
SafeWalk is completely free to use for anyone who downloads the app. It’s a fantastic tool for students, schools, families, lone walkers, and anyone walking or travelling alone.
Download the SafeKab app now and be sure of a SafeWalk every time you step out of the door.
