Getting around safely

Walking around

• Try to walk with friends or stay near a group of people and stick to busy areas. 
• Take well-lit, busy streets, carry a mobile phone and a personal alarm with you and try to keep both hands free.
• If you’re wearing headphones or earbuds, keep the volume low enough to hear surrounding noise or keep one ear free. 
• If a vehicle pulls up suddenly beside you, turn and walk in the other direction.
• Consider carrying a personal alarm with you. 

Getting there and home safely

• Before you head out, work out how you’re going to get home safely – have money or cards for a taxi, book an Uber, top-up your Myki, arrange for a sober friend or family member to pick you up, make sure there’s a designated driver in your group or check public transport times so you know when the last train, bus or tram leaves and where the closest stops are. 
• Only accept lifts with people you trust, or book a licensed taxi or registered Uber. Ask the driver to wait until you’re safely inside.

Driving

• Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
• Never get into a car with a driver who’s been drinking or taking drugs, is unlicensed or has too many people in the car. 
• If you’ve driven your own vehicle and end up drinking alcohol or taking other drugs while you’re out, leave your car there and find a safe way home. 
• If you’re the designated driver for the evening – don’t drink alcohol or take drugs and don’t overload the car with passengers. Make sure everyone has a seat and has fastened their seatbelt. 
• If you’re taking friends home, wait until they are safely inside before you drive off. 

Public transport

• Make sure you have enough money loaded on your Myki to get to your location and home again.
• If travelling by train, sit in the first carriage near the driver and sit near other people if you can, such as a family group. 
• If taking a tram or bus, sit as close to the driver as possible. 
• Plan ahead to avoid long waits for transport, especially at night.
• Try to use stops that are well-lit and located in areas where there’s lots of foot traffic or other people around.  
• If you feel unsafe, alert the Protective Services Officers (PSOs), public transport staff, the driver, police or other passengers to help. On trains use the red emergency call button to speak with the driver or conductor.
• If you feel uncomfortable with the person near you, change seats or carriages.
• If you’ll be returning at night, park your car as close to the station as possible, in a well-lit area. If you feel unsafe walking to your car, ask a PSO to accompany you.
• On Friday and Saturday nights in Melbourne, use Public Transport Victoria’s Night Network which runs throughout the night. 

Also check out our other tips for using public transport safely.