The survey also suggests that women should not walk alone after dark if theyre not wearing any protective gear. 2. Having your phone handy could make you an easy target for criminals. Differences observed were significant in all settings except for "during the day in a park or other open space" for both men and women, and "during the day in a quiet street near home" for men. Be aware of the sounds of cars and other pedestrians. She was at her most vulnerable, trying to get home, yet someone took advantage. Im not used to walking far in heels and Im worried I look alone and drunk. Most Americans continue to feel safe in their immediate communities, with 63% saying they would not be afraid . Bringing everyone together in one space would mean we could look out for one another better after dark., Public service training to educate us all on how to safely step in and support someone whos alone and in trouble., More thriving local high streets with businesses keeping longer opening hours, as you see on the continent. You should also plan a route in case of an emergency. The name of a bus driver who searched social media for details of a teenage girl who had boarded his bus, before sexually assaulting her. If youre out on a night run, dont forget to wear reflective gear. 3 . Youll be less likely to be targeted by an attacker if you have someone to talk to. You can find out more about the cookies we use in our. This piece of creative fiction entwined with statistical facts was originally written as a response to one of the themes of the Writing Human Rights module at the University of Warwick. I need to relax. Using a flashlight is a great idea! Be vigilant and use these safety tips when youre out and about. In this article, we will be discussing the importance of daily posture exercises and how they can help improve our overall health and Back Posture Exercises on YouTube: A Comprehensive Guide to Improving Your Health. We must break down stereotypes and make it safer for more women to walk and cycle, Cities that are designed for women are designed for everyone, Celebrating the diversity of minds at Sustrans, Our streets don't work for disabled women why equity is the way forward. The name of a bus driver who committed a string of sexual assaults on passengers. 8 Tips On How Do You Use a Neck Hammock on Your Neck ? About 63 per cent of people who reported feeling unsafe during the day said they had changed their behaviour in the previous month, with this figure increasing to 42 per cent for those who felt unsafe after dark. Scan the ground 10-15 feet ahead to see upcoming hazards. One in two women and one in five men felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a busy public place. Litter has been blown across the pavements; a tin can is scrunched on the road. Disabled people felt less safe walking alone in all settings than non-disabled people. Im the only one awake. Three out of five women aged 16 to 34 years experienced at least one form of harassment in the previous 12 months; with 44% of women aged 16 to 34 years having experienced catcalls, whistles, unwanted sexual comments or jokes, and 29% having felt like they were being followed. Twenty minutes and Ill be home. What a no-win, no-win choice., I dont feel safe using a torch when walking through the park because I don't want to highlight myself as a lone woman. The data, released yesterday (24th August 2021), reveals that during the period 2nd 27th June 2021: The data comes two months after the release of the governments new Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Strategy; launched in light of the increased public attention, anger and distress about violence against women and girls following the murders of Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman and many others. It can help to carry a whistle so that other people can alert the police. So, we think it's important that we talk about the ways that YOU can keep . A flashlight will also help you to be visible. Maybe Ill boil the kettle for a hot water bottle too. Adults who experienced at least one form of harassment in the previous 12 months were more likely to feel unsafe when walking alone compared with those who had not. Its quieter too. Keep your headlights on. Ubering is the safe route. So, walking alone at night is always going to be more dangerous than either walking with a group at night or walking by yourself during the day. And the same proportion of women and 15% of men did not feel safe walking alone after dark on a quiet street near their home, according to the survey of 16,112 people aged 16 and over in Britain . Differences between groups presented in this bulletin are significant at a 95% confidence level. The day will get shorter from now until the winter solstice, so you should be extra visible. Women are tired of constantly undertaking personal risk assessments and invisible safety work to keep themselves safe from male violence. Dont cross the street unless there is a designated crosswalk. Some 49% of women and one in five men (19% . Would you feel safe to walk alone in the dark? The figures are alarming, especially when you consider that many crimes are committed by strangers. Read more: When rape sparks protest: Turning points in Indias history, or history repeating itself? The risks of walking alone. According to a survey conducted by YouGov in Norway, 63 per cent of women said they were uncomfortable walking alone after dark, compared to 46 per cent of men. Home and safe. My heart is racing. In August 2021 the Office for National Statistics published its first study of perceptions of personal safety and experiences of harassment when walking. A minuscule chance, but not impossible. In one stop it will drop me right outside my door. If youre worried about being alone at night, here are some tips to keep you safe. There are some clear findings: men and women both feel less safe after dark, but the extent to which women feel unsafe is significantly greater. Also, its good to keep your cell phone with you at all times, since it can help you if someone tries to approach you. If youre hiking with a group, its better to have more than one. Leading womens rights organisations have today (20th April 2023) launched a report exposi Child sexual abuse survivors experiences must not be weaponised for racis Child sexual abuse and exploitation are deeply harmful forms of violence that are dispropo We use essential cookies to make our site work. Im not changing my life to appease my anxieties. Copyright 2023 YouGov PLC. Mark Spalding. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Disabled people, too, are more likely to feel unsafe, even in the daytime in busy public places., Nick Stripe, Head of Crime Statistics Branch, Office for National Statistics, Follow Crime Statistics Branch on Twitter @NickStripe_ONS. What if someone sneaks up on me? Four girls are laughing, bantering back. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". There is, however, no real increase in the number of women not venturing outdoors at night since the previous poll (18%). Telephone interviews are available if requested by a respondent. You can let someone you trust know your location before you start walking at night. The best way to improve your visibility is to wear safety gear that makes you stand out from the crowd. Unit 221 China Works, Black Prince Road, London SE1 7SJ. No one is going in my direction, so Ill walk home alone. It ran in four waves between 2 to 27 June. The name of a bus driver who sexually assaulted a female passenger on the night bus, waiting for her to be alone, moving the bus to obscure them from view. They are asking anyone with information to contact them immediately.. "Be safe . "Walking alone at night, even in a relatively busy city centre, is something I would try never to do, although during the winter it's often impossible to avoid when it's dark around 4pm. That's four . Sign up now to hear more about our latest news, views, events, campaigns, policy, impact and other activities. All Rights Reserved. You should also carry legal defense, such as pepper spray, a whistle, and a flashlight. Its important to follow the rules of the road and observe road signs. In December 2021 we published our position on personal safety, setting out our commitment and multi-faceted approach. In high-income countries, theres a large gap between men and women. This includes challenging our own assumptions, biases and approaches. Some 6 out of 10 people who reported feeling . This is not the latest release. While some people may consider this as paranoiac, the fact that someone is aware of your whereabouts can make you feel safer. In one year, there were more than 400 reports of criminal offences by taxi, or private hire drivers in London alone, with 126 accused of violent or sexual offences, Only one in six sexual assaults is reported. There are several things you should do when walking alone at night. In this publication, the term "settings" refers to the three locations, both in the day and after dark. Personal safety: Womens experiences of being alone after dark. Drivers should use reasonable caution to avoid hitting pedestrians, and should always yield to oncoming traffic. Dont sit in the front seat. My phone pings. This allows you to see the driver, who can then avoid you. One in two women and one in five men felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a busy public place. In the same study, only 7% of men felt the same way. You dont want to spend your time looking for bumps or cars. Either the cold or my pace is making me breathe loudly. Lacuna Magazine is produced by the Centre for Human Rights in Practice as part of the Writing Wrongs programme. I knew it would be okay. Im being pathetic. 33-year-old Sarah Everard was reported missing . There are several dangers of walking alone at night. 10) Trust Your Gut. A Running App to Share Your Location With Friends: Strava. My mouth is really dry. And indeed, data shows that 32% of women in the UK feel unsafe or very unsafe when walking alone in their local area at night. More women expressed more frequent fear about other common activities, including walking down an alley alone (up from 49% to 63% among those who ever do so) and going on a first date (up from 15% to 28%). One in two women and one in seven men felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a quiet street near their home. When you walk or jog alone at night, you should always be aware of your surroundings. Because I should not be made to feel irresponsible simply for being out on my own after dark.. Keeping an eye out for strangers and their suspicious activities is another important thing to do. Recent high profile murders of young women, particularly that of Sarah Everard, have shocked the nation, and eroded public confidence in the police. A person in need can use a whistle to call for help. Ive done the scariest part, no need to get the bus for a single stop when I can walk. Date research was conducted: September 23, 2017. Men and women both feel less safe after dark but the extent to which women feel unsafe is significantly greater. Less traffic fewer witnesses Dont be stupid Im almost there. Remember, you dont know how many cars are out at night and if youll be walking alone at night, your visibility is much higher. One in two women felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a busy public place, compared to one in five men. Maybe an Uber is available. Street harassment and threats of violence do not exist in a vacuum; they are part of a broader issue of violence against women and girls that is underpinned by womens inequality, male power and control. Quite often, they have also described someone else with them. Well-lit residential areas make me feel a bit safer. Someone catcalls and whistles. In addition, if possible, wear a security necklace or bracelet. Use a walking stick or flashlight to guide you. Advertisement. Perceptions of personal safety and experiences of harassment, Great Britain Dataset | Released 24 August 2021 Data from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) on perceptions of personal safety in different settings, by personal characteristics, collected between 2 and 27 June 2021. Four out of five women and two out of five men felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a park or other open space. Data relating to age, sex, ethnicity, disability, region, and deprivation can be found within the accompanying datasets. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Do you ever change your plans or behaviour in response to your environment? 5 in 6 rapes against women are carried out by someone they know. Using it is the most direct route home, but I never do because if I got into trouble, thered be no one to help me., I dont listen to music in headphones for fear of someone sneaking up on me., Id love to say I never let feeling vulnerable change my plans, but it totally does. So here goes, and good luck! When choosing your route, choose well-lit areas and neighborhoods. According to the latest statistics from Mission Australia, nearly half of women and 27% of men feel unsafe walking home alone at night. Disabled people felt less safe walking alone in all settings than non-disabled people. Respondents said insults were the most common form of abuse that women experience while using public transport, followed by being forced to board vehicles against their wishes and indecent touching., 2. Know where your potential dangers are before you go out at night. Im sure its fine hes fine everything is fine. Youll be less likely to be a victim of a crime. Data also shows the effect of fear of crime on quality of life for the year ending March 2016. No one else was on the bus. One of the most important safety tips for walking at night is to avoid dark areas and keep to well-lit areas. Unless you want to be stranded in the middle of the night, its best to stick to well-lit areas and carry a flashlight with you. Dont spend your time looking out for bumps and cars. Read our policy position on personal safety. Hear from Dame Sarah Storey about why we must break down stereotypes and make it safer for more women to walk and cycle. If not, A Rapist in Your Path: A feminist anthem springing from Chile and spreading worldwide, 9 inspiring stories from women fighting injustice around the world, Not a statue of love: Self-recognition in the Piazza della Signoria, Attempting to put down roots in a Syrian refugee camp, You dont look autistic: On stereotypes and late diagnosis, A year on from the Girls Night In protests: Sober reflections on spiking and nightlife safety. Its almost impossible to imagine a day without a cell phone. The Office for National Statistics reported that nearly half of women feel unsafe walking home by themselves after dark in public spaces. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fewer than four in 10 adults in the U.S. (37%) say there is an area within a mile of where they live where they would be afraid to walk alone at night, similar to Americans' attitudes over the last decade and a half. You could be unlucky. Its stopping, 41%) say they take steps on a regular basis to protect themselves from sexual assault, Half of the female population do not feel safe walking alone at night. The chances are so small, yet the threat is continuous. Im excited for a hot chocolate. It will rise after a long night behind black skies. However, sometimes it's . Dont: Dont: If you cant live without your phone, dont. A pepper spray can temporarily stop an attacker. Thousands of stars, so high and bright the fog doesnt obscure them. Be alert at all times and be cautious. 79 percent of people in the UK say they feel safe walking home alone at night. One in two women felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a quiet street near their home, compared to one in seven men.