Solo Women: Stay Safe On The Road With These Tips

As a solo woman traveller, I think I’ve traveled more than 30,000 km in my RV.  Along the way, I learned how  to back a travel trailer through trial and error, and I learned to drive a behemoth of an RV by watching YouTube videos.  I’ll admit when I started out, I felt more than a little intimidated.  But I threw myself wholeheartedly into it.  It was either sink, swim, or quit. And to me, quitting isn’t an option until you’ve tried and failed so many times you can’t count.  Especially when the reward is a life of beautiful views and freedom.  That being said, many women I talk to at stops along the way have mentioned they’d be too scared to RV alone. However, it’s honestly not that scary to be a solo woman traveller in an RV.  

Staying Mobile

I’m not going to lie- there have been times when I’ve moved my RV to a new location because I wasn’t comfortable where I was.  But I can’t say I felt unsafe. After all, one of the advantages of a motorhome is that it’s pretty hard to tell who’s in it.  My rig is self contained, so on any given overnight stop, for all anyone knows, there could be an ogre in it.  As far as my safety as a solo woman RVer goes, I feel as safe or safer than I did living in a stationary home.   

Sobering Statistics For Solo WOmen

Here’s the thing:  Statistically,  I’d be more likely to be a victim of a violent altercation from an intimate partner than from a stranger at a campground or rest area.  According to Statistics Canada, only about 39% of violent crimes to women are perpetrated by strangers.  So women who RV on their own might be a little safer than solo women campers.   Regardless of all that, here’s a few ways women can stay safe on the road in their RVs.  

1. Keep your RV well maintained
   • RV maintenance is essential to safety on the road. Perhaps especially when it comes to wheels, tires and brakes. Unlike other tires, RV tires can wear out without even showing any wear. Then when you’re driving down the road, they can suddenly explode. No one wants a surprise when it comes tires. Keep them inflated to manufacturer recommend recommended tire pressure, and replace around every 4-8 years, depending on the tire.
2. Let someone know where you’re headed.
   • Designate one or two people as your contact, and keep them informed about your planned route and destination, and check in with them regularly.
3. Camp in safe areas
   • If the place you planned to camp has signs of being a local bush party spot, homeless encampment, or if it just creeps you out, keep driving. Guaranteed there will be a safer spot down the road.
4. Never rely on GPS or navigation apps alone
   • Navigation apps can offer a false sense of of security when it comes to getting to your destination safely. However, every so often, they lead travellers astray, sending them on bizarre detours down back roads and beyond. Seriously: RVers have died following GPS instructed routes to their doom. Read my own terrifying experience on RPod Adventure Blog. Always use a road atlas or map to plan your route, and GPS apps as a backup.
5. Have a contingency plan
   • It’s always a good idea to have a plan for how you’ll deal with an unexpected event like a mechanical breakdown. Having membership with an organization like Coach-net or an Automobile Association can give you peace of mind when you travel.
6. Don’t open your door to strangers
   • You wouldn’t open your door to someone you don’t know in your stationary home. It doesn’t make sense to do it in your RV either.
7. Have a gender-neutral Wifi name
   • If you have a Wifi or cell phone name like “Shirley Imagurl” you’re giving everyone in the neighbourhood information they don’t need to know. Instead, name your wifi network or cell phone something like “FBI Surveillance” to avoid strangers who would target a female.
8. Don’t make your RV look “girly”.
9. Don’t leave valuables out in plain sight.
10. Make it look like more than one person is camping in your RV
    • Have more than one camping chair
11. If someone gives you the creeps, hop in the driver’s seat and leave.
12. Be aware of local wildlife and know how to stay safe
13. Have a smoke alarm, CO detector and multiple fire extinguishers in your RV, just in case
14. Keep a good first aid kit handy
15. Be self contained

Staying Safe On The Road

Unfortunately, we live in a world where many women live in unsubstantiated fear that keeps them from hitting the road on their own. The truth is, many women would be safer out exploring the world on their own in an RV than they are in a stationary home. It’s always wise to common sense when travelling. However, it’s a waste of a perfectly good life to deny oneself knowledge, opportunities and freedom while waiting for a partner to travel with.