Stay Safe While Dating: Valentine’s Day Safety Tips

February 7, 2025
8:50 am

Valentine’s Day is a time for romance, but staying safe while dating should always be a priority. Whether you’re meeting someone new for the first time or going on a second or third date, taking precautions ensures that your experience remains enjoyable and secure. With the rise of online dating, it’s easier than ever to connect with new people, but it also comes with risks. Here are SafeKabs’s top five dating safety tips to keep in mind.

1. Always Meet in a Public Place

When meeting someone for the first time, always choose a public venue. Ideal locations include:

Cafés or coffee shops
Restaurants or bars with good foot traffic
Busy parks during daylight hours
Well-lit public spaces

Avoid secluded locations or agreeing to meet at someone’s home. Public settings provide a safety net, ensuring that help is readily available if needed. Additionally, a public venue allows you to gauge your date’s behavior in a neutral setting before deciding if you want to spend more time with them.

2. Do Your Research Beforehand

A little background information can go a long way in ensuring your safety. Before your date, consider:

Searching for their social media profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) to verify their identity.
Checking if they have mutual friends or connections.
Ensuring their details match what they’ve told you.

While you don’t need to conduct a full-scale investigation, verifying basic information like their name, occupation, and general background can provide peace of mind.

3. Share Your Plans with Someone You Trust

Informing a close friend or family member about your date is a simple yet effective safety measure. Provide them with the following details:

The name of the person you’re meeting
The time and location of your date
The expected duration
A check-in time to confirm you’re safe

You can also use the location-sharing feature of SafeWalk, wheer you can let a friend know where you are and they can follow your journey home remotely to make sure you get home safe.

4. Trust Your Instincts and Have an Exit Plan

Your intuition is one of the most powerful safety tools you have. If something feels “off” about your date, do not hesitate to leave. Common red flags include:

Pressuring you into drinking excessively
Avoiding personal questions or being inconsistent with details
Exhibiting aggressive or overly controlling behavior

To make a swift exit, you can:

Arrange for a friend to call you at a set time to check in.
Use a pre-planned excuse, such as feeling unwell or needing to meet someone afterward.
Position yourself near an exit if you’re in a restaurant or bar.
Use the SafeKab app to get your taxi home at just a few tapps of the app

5. Carry a Personal Safety Device

While self-defense weapons such as pepper spray are illegal in the UK, there are legal alternatives for personal protection, including:

Personal safety alarms – These emit a high-pitched sound to deter threats and attract attention. The SafeKab app has one embedded that will not only emit a high pitched alarm, but will alert a loved one that you need help.
Tracking and safety apps – Apps like SafeKab provide real-time emergency alerts and location tracking.
A fully charged phone – Ensure your phone has enough battery in case you need to call for help.

Additional Tip: Arrange Your Own Transport

Never rely on your date for transportation. Instead:

Use a trusted cab service like SafeKab that specialises in safety .
Park your own vehicle in a well-lit area.
Have a backup plan for getting home safely.

Why Choose SafeKab for your local cab home?

🔒 Safety First – Your safety is our priority.
Safety Code
Before starting your journey, you’ll get a unique code to match your driver’s code, enhancing safety and confidence.
Journey Monitoring
Stay connected with loved ones during your travels. Share your journey information and location in real time, providing peace of mind to your friends and family.
Panic Button
In case of emergencies, the app has a panic button that notifies both the local office and designated contacts, ensuring your safety during the journey.
Cashless Travel
Top up your in-app SafeKab wallet, and never have to take out your purse or wallet to pay. This way, you can always make sure you have money for the taxi home, and you don’t need to carry any cash!
📱 User-Friendly App: With just a few taps, your ride is booked. No more waiting in the rain or waving down taxis.
💰 Affordable Fixed- Fare Local Taxis: Quality service doesn’t have to break the bank. Get where you need to go without emptying your wallet.
🤝 Support Local: SafeKab is proud to be a part of the Inverness community. When you ride with us, you’re supporting local businesses and drivers.