8 Tips For A Safe Commute
Often when you go to and from work, you get so used to the trip that you travel on autopilot without thinking about the things that might get in the way of putting your personal safety first.
As lockdown restrictions start to ease in the UK, here are some refreshers on what to do, so your safety remains the top priority.
1. Travelling after working late
In the most recent European Working Conditions Survey, the UK topped the list of countries in which employees work overtime.
It’s surprising how few businesses still put reliable measures in place for their teams to get home late if they rely on public transport, and if there’s a decent walk to your car if you’re parked.
If you rely on public transport and are expected to work late to complete a project, speak to your boss and see if they’ll be able to sort out a taxi for you - or give you access to a taxi on account. Your commitment to delivering the project is helping out the business, so that’s the least they can do.
If you drive and realise that the walk to pick up your car isn’t the best lit, or is a bit far, perhaps raise with a number of your colleagues and see if there can be provisions put in place to increase lighting for safety reasons.
2. Do you need to be in the office?
Our 24hr culture with mobile technology, means that customer service shifts can also be all hours.
Companies like Monzo are really leading the way with offering regular remote working opportunities to their customer service and other support teams, recognising that some work - and those with some antisocial hours, can be completed as effectively from home.
3. Tell your loved ones where you are
If you’re freelance, in field sales or asked to go to various meetings during the day, it’s easy to forget to tell people where you’re going to be.
But if you’re going somewhere out of the ordinary (that you might not know), be sure to share your location with your loved ones. It pays to have someone looking out for you, and to have someone in touch immediately when required.
4. Take the longer (but more well-lit) route
That cut-through or alley that’s fine in the daytime might not be so fine at night, even if it’s not that late.
Realistically, that 2-3 minutes saved by an alley just isn’t worth it if you have that awful ‘icky’ feeling when you walk home.
Stick to busier, more well lit roads for your trip home, and if needs be, take a taxi or a short bus ride.
5. Check in before and during your journey home
Now with the tube having Wifi in most stations, you can keep up with your loved ones en route home, but if they know where you are, and when you leave and get home, they’ll be able to track if you’re safe.
If you suddenly take a much longer route home, then chances are they’ll figure out something is up, and likely be vigilant anyway, but just being able to check in can help take that stress away.
6. If you feel uncomfortable, try to change carriages
We don’t wish this to happen, of course, but sometimes that feeling of being stuck next to someone who might be overly friendly is the worst.
You don’t need to engage, you can simply just get off and wait for the next train if you know they’re regular, or perhaps just hop onto a different carriage
Avoidance shouldn’t have to be the answer, but it can make your journey a little easier.
7. Report any inappropriate behaviour
Did you know that there is no CCTV on the Bakerloo and Central Lines on the London Underground? We didn’t either until we read this article from Refinery 29 on some frankly, alarming statistics.
Handily though on the TfL Website, they offer up a clear number to text or call to report any behaviour - text 61016 or call 101. They also tackle misconceptions of why you may not wish to report any behaviour, and the reasons that at all times, it’s a good idea.
8. Use One Scream
All of the above will definitely help you out, but having One Scream installed too, will just add an additional layer of safety when you might need it.
Commute safe out there! x
The One Scream app is available to download via the App store or Google Play.