22 Ways to Stay Safe While Driving in Kenya by Glen Edmunds

1. Don't drink and drive. Appoint a designated driver before the evening begins.
2. Never assume that this could never happen to me. There are an average of 63 car-jackings a week in Nairobi alone.
3. Concentration and awareness are your best defense.
4. You are most vulnerable when you are parked at your gate coming home.
5. Park at an angle so you can drive away if necessary.
6. Put your car in reverse so the tail lights will light up the area behind you. This will enable you to see anyone sneaking up from the back of the car.
7. Consider giving your night watchman a mobile phone so you can alert him to open the gates when you are nearby.
8. Don’t get distracted by talking on your mobile phone. You need to pay 100% attention to what is going on around you at all times.
9. Don’t drive alone at night unless absolutely necessary.
10. Some security companies such as Ultimate offer an escort service to and from your location at night.
11. If you don’t have access to this service go in convoy with friends to a party.
12. Park only in well lit- populated locations
13. Be alert to vehicles following you, especially with two or more occupants or with high-beamed headlights.   If you think you are being followed:
    • Make some unusual turns and see if they follow you.
    • If you speed up, do they speed up?
    • Go around a roundabout twice.
    • Stay calm and don’t panic.
    • Don’t go home.
    • Go to the nearest police station or parked security vehicle.
14. Call the police, flying squad & your security provider. Put all these numbers on speed dial on your mobile phone. Tell them your location and what is happening.
15. Try to keep the carjackers behind you and keep moving until help comes. Once they are in front of you they have control and can stop you.
16. But most importantly of all, don’t be a hero. If you are being carjacked and a man is holding a gun at your head, give them the car and anything else he wants.
17. Don’t argue or ask questions.
18. Be Polite
19. Don’t look them in the eye
20. Do everything that they say. Even if it means getting in the boot.
21. If you are asked to get out of the car and need to remove your seat belt, state your intent before doing so or pull on the strap and show them what you are doing. Many have been killed by diving for the seatbelt buckle because it looks as if you are going for a gun.
22. Try to remember as many details as possible about the carjackers and report the incident to the authorities as soon as possible.