Vehicle Safety Tips

General Tips:

• Park in well-lit, heavily populated areas
• Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, find another place to park
• Avoid parking next to occupied vehicles
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Do not leave valuable items visible in your car
• Close all windows and lock all doors before leaving your vehicle

Before entering your vehicle:

• Walk with others to your vehicle whenever possible
• If someone looks suspicious, leave the area immediately; do not try to go to your vehicle. Contact (if on the Marysville campus call via
  741-6771 or 870-1158 after 4:30 p.m.; Woodland campus via 681-8782 or any emergency phone) about the attack from a cellular telephone or any campus telephone.
• Carry your vehicle key on a separate ring from your house keys
• Have your keys in hand when you approach your vehicle
• Look around and underneath your vehicle before approaching
• Check the back seat of your vehicle before entering
• Upon entering your vehicle immediately lock all doors
• Make a copy of your registration and keep it on your person. Then remove all forms of identification from your vehicle. Anyone with permission to drive your vehicle should also have a copy of the registration on their person to furnish to the police if necessary

While driving:

• If you are involved in a minor collision in an isolated area, you may want to drive to a well-lit and populated area before stopping to assess your damage
• Never pick up hitchhikers or troubled motorists. If you want to help a troubled motorist, drive to the nearest phone and call the police.
• While driving, if you notice that you are being followed, do not go home. Drive to the nearest police station, open store or service station for help. If you are fearful of exiting your vehicle, blow your horn to draw attention to yourself.
• Report all attempted vehicle thefts, if on campus, (if on the Marysville campus call via 741-6771 or 870-1158 after 4:30 p.m. or Woodland campus via 681-8782 or any emergency phone about the attack or, if off campus, your local police department. This information will assist police in apprehending the suspects before they make another attempt.

If You Are Approached for Your Vehicle (Carjacking):
While this is a highly personal decision, we strongly recommend that you give up your keys immediately, and without protest. Avoid getting into the vehicle with the suspect(s) if at all possible. If you do have to surrender your vehicle note the following:

• The race, sex, approximate height, and clothing of the suspect(s)
• The direction that the suspect(s) went
• If they had weapons, and if so, what type

Report this information immediately to police by calling 9-1-1 from any phone, or campus emergency telephone or call from a phone on the Marysville campus call via 741-6771 or 870-1158 after 4:30 p.m. or Woodland campus via 681-8782.

Return to the Personal Safety Education Page