Plan.Meet.Repeat January February 2019 Issue plan meet repeat jan feb 2019 | Page 11
Keep in mind that I am not here to scare you or make you
paranoid! I am simply going to be bringing your
attention and focus onto potential threats that
surround you on a daily basis, and specifically events.
Today’s the day! You’re off to an event you’ve been
waiting all month to attend. The very first thing after
you get ready is probably to grab your keys, wallet or
purse, laptop and smartphone before heading out the
door. The mode of transportation that you use
represents your first potential safety risk. For many
people, this means getting in their car and driving to
the event. You could also be driving or get picked up
by a taxi or limo and driven to another form of
transportation such as a plane, train or bus. Each of
these presents a unique set of challenges to your
personal safety and security we will ultimately address.
For our scenario, we will be driving ourselves to the
airport to fly to an event.
Most of us drive just about every day and are familiar
with the risks that can come our way from other
drivers as well as from our own distracted driving.
To protect ourselves, we try to pay attention in order
to get to our destination (the airport) safely. There will
always be other drivers who can cause accidents, and
there may not be anything you can do to avoid one.
However, allocating enough time to get to your
destination so you are not rushing and distracted (such
as thinking about being late for your flight) can go a long
way toward reducing your stress and your risk.
If you are distracted, either by your own thoughts or
by technology (phone, music, news) then your level of
risk increases. It only takes a fraction of a second for
an accident to occur. Do you really need to check that
text message as you drive 65mph on the highway? If
you need to make or take a call, does your car have
Bluetooth capability so that you don’t have to take
your eyes off the road? How about using GPS to help
guide you to your destination instead of trying to read
every exit and street sign? (Of course, you always wear
your seat belt, right?)
There are simple solutions that can make our everyday
lives safer from risks. Harnessing the power of
technology in certain situations can absolutely make
you safer. Cars now have backup cameras, blind spot
sensors, detect lane drift and do so much more to help
improve your safety on the road. However, the most
important factor in any of this is you. Technology can’t
do everything (at least not yet!) You still must make the
right decisions about what increases your risks and
safety versus what decreases your risks and improves
your safety and well-being.
As you drive, you will undoubtedly have to make
stops. It could be at a light, to get gas, grab breakfast
at a coffee shop, etc. Again, each of these has risks, but
we often don’t think about them. At the light, is there
anyone around trying to clean your windows or asking
you to spare some change? Keep your doors locked
and use your best judgment about how to handle the
interaction. Simply ignoring the person is one option.
Engaging them is another. Which carries more risk?
Stopping to get gas is typically routine. But do you
know how to spot a credit card skimmer that could be
attached to the gas pump’s credit card reader? If you
aren’t aware that this could be a potential problem, you
won’t give it a second thought. You’ll swipe your card,
fill your tank, and head back out on the road not
realizing that your card was skimmed, and the data
read by a criminal. You may not realize it until you try
to pay for dinner that night with the same card...only
to find out that it doesn’t work! What is the solution to
credit card skimmers? Learn how to recognize them or
get in the habit of paying inside instead of at the pump. Use
pumps close to the entrance since they are less likely to be
compromised than ones further away. Keep in mind that
these skimmers can be installed in less than a minute
at various locations including POS terminals and ATM
machines. Credit card skimmers on gas pumps are a
huge problem, and there are hundreds compromised
in every state! Not knowing this is a threat is no excuse
– learn more about them and protect yourself, your
finances and your identity!
Plan Meet Repeat Magazine Jan/Feb 2019
11