*This is a collaborative post.
Do you like to travel? If you do, you’ve probably had your share of stopping at rest stops. Did you know that rest stops are notoriously known for being dangerous and being a hotspot for local crimes?
Why Stopping at the Next Rest Area Might Not Be a Good Idea
Unfortunately, rest stops are a breeding ground for the following:
- Thieves
- Prostitution
- Drug Dealers
- Vandalism
- Unclean Facilities
How Can I Be Safe When Stopping at the Next Rest Area?
- Invest in a rest stop app when you plan to stop at the next rest area
A rest stop app could help you locate a rest stop with your needs in mind. They can filter out the ones you don’t want and save a lot of time. This innovative tool could be very useful in filtering out dangerous rest stops and only providing the ones you deem acceptable.
- Know where you are
If you absolutely have to stay a while in a seedy area, take note of its name and some kind of landmark, just in case authorities need to be called.
- Avoid unsavory-looking characters
If someone is hanging out in the parking lot of a rest stop without an agenda (phone call, cigarette, etc.), there is a chance that they may have malicious intent. They could be out to steal, turn a trick, or initiate a drug deal. Try to spend as little time in the parking lot as you can.
- Lock your car
This should be obvious, but sometimes people just forget to lock their cars. Always double-check. Robberies are very common at rest stops.
- Keep your valuables on your person at all times
This goes hand in hand with the car issue. If you take your valuables out of your car and keep them on your person, the person attempting to rob your car won’t get anything of value. To avoid a mugging, stay out of the parking lot as much as you can.
Knowing how to handle stopping in a dangerous looking area, could potentially your life and you’re the lives of your passengers. Authorities usually advise drivers not to stay overnight at the next rest area they pass, but sometimes that is just unavoidable. The important thing is to keep your wits about you, don’t linger in your car or the parking lot for too long, and if you have children or pets keep them within your range of sight at all times.
