If you are a woman, unfortunately, you have to be significantly more careful when you drive alone at night. Depending on the area of the country that you live in, it may not even be advisable to do so. Driving at night is incredibly dangerous for a number of reasons. First of all, your visibility is greatly reduced because of how dark it is, which makes it difficult to see predators or animals in the roadway. It is also dangerous because you really have to pay more attention to your surroundings when you get into and out of your vehicle, especially in areas that are not well lit.
In light of all of this information, it is always a good idea to do most of your traveling during the day if you can help it. If you really find that you have no other choice, then try to find a driving companion. If that doesn’t work, then you simply have to be on your toes. Carry a fully charged cell phone and a list of hand-written emergency numbers should your cell phone die and you have to use a pay phone or land line. Remember, just because the majority of people in the world have cell phones doesn’t meant that cell phones don’t occasionally fail to work, forcing us to [gasp] actually have to use a payphone. Having said that, make sure you always carry some loose change (at least a couple of dollars in change) and some small bills.
Keeping in mind that you are driving in a car, things can occasionally go wrong. If you are being pulled over by a police officer, you are within your right to keep going until you reach a well-lit area. If you have a flat tire or some other type of emergency, the same thing applies; make sure that you try your best to get to an area that is at least marginally lighted so that you can see better around you. If you are traveling and leaving early in the morning or even if you’re traveling at all, always make sure that you personally inspect your vehicle beforehand. Check all of your tires the day before and make sure that the tire pressure is correct. Filling up your gas tank so that you start off with a full tank of gas is always a good idea to do the day before while it is light out- this way you won’t have to stop for gas so early in the morning when it is dark.
In order to avoid having to stop too many times in areas in which you are unfamiliar, pack some snacks before hand and pay attention to roadway signs that point out gas stations and fast food restaurants along the way. While you may not like fast food, remember that it is better to remain in your car as often as you can until you reach your final destination. If you do need to stop, make sure that it’s in an area where there are a comfortable amount of people. Avoid stopping at places that look deserted or in which there are only one or two people floating around.