Walking alone at night

Once it's gone dark I don't like walking the 50m to my car.

I will walk the dog on dark evenings in my local town, not much choice really as my dog still expects his walk. I feel quite safe but certainly wouldn’t go onto the field or down paths where I’d happily venture during the day. After dark I stick to the local streets where there are plenty of houses and street lights. If going out late in the evening I would never walk home alone now, I usually drive or get a lift. Quite often these awful crimes we hear about happen in broad daylight so best to be cautious at all times of day or night.

Naninka I’m surprised one of them (the couple) didn’t offer to walk you home the short distance in the dark after babysitting for them.

No! I won't live under a curfew no matter what - but I am a bit more nervous so I've bought a personal alarm, I keep a couple of small spray cans in my bag, one of wd40 and one of hairspray, and if I get a bit shaky I carry my phone in my hand and make a video of everything - makes me feel a bit better - I live alone and distrust taxi drivers, all male and I've had some bad experiences, so I have no other choice or I would never go out of an evening

It's nothing to do with current events. Even as a teenager in the 50s I wouldn't have dreamed of walking out after dark alone. It's also got nothing to do with being female. Everyday the papers are full of young men being attacked. We all owe ourselves a duty of care, and that doesn't amount to victim blaming, it's just common sense!

Nothing has changed (over centuries probably)

The rules for walking out at night are the same for men and women. Avoid narrow and/or unlit paths, parks and the like. Stick to main roads and well lit streets and be aware of what is happening around you.

Attacks like the two recent ones are very rare indeed. It is the man in the home who is hundreds of times or more, more likely to attack a woman than the unknown man in the street.

I let my niece travel home alone in the dark the other night as knew it wasn't far from her home. She's in her thirties and used to it. I didn't worry at all. Won't be ruled by fear.