Safety tips to remember when touring
The Roodepoort Police Station has issued a statement offering some tips to remember as a tourist.
As we often visit other provinces and get visitors from those provinces, safety has become a concern, as tourists are vulnerable.
The Roodepoort Police Station has issued a statement offering some tips to remember as a tourist.
“As always, personal safety is a matter of shared responsibility between authorities and the individual visitor. To ensure that your visit is special and safe, we offer a few suggestions based on international guidelines – for your assistance,” read the statement.
It goes on to list the tips you need to remember:
*Make sure your bags and luggage have locks and name tags
*Do not allow people to tamper with your bags
*When seeking directions, proceed to marked information counters only
*Report any suspicious, unattended luggage or parcels to the personnel at reception
*Never leave your luggage unattended unless it is locked away in your room
*Store valuables in the safety deposit box
*Keep your room locked
*If someone knocks, check who it is before opening the door. Contact reception if you have any reason for concern
*Hand your keys in whenever you leave
*Make sure that luggage is only given to the bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage
*Avoid an ostentatious display of expensive jewellery, cameras, mobile phones and other valuables
*Keep your handbag with you, keep it closed or zipped, and do not leave it unattended
*Keep your mobile phone with you and do not leave it unattended
*Do not carry large sums of money with you
*Exchange your currency at a bank or at the hotel – never exchange it on the street
*Carry your wallet in an inside pocket – never in the rear pocket of your trousers
*Credit card transactions must be processed in your presence
*At night, stay away from dark, isolated areas
*It is always better to explore in groups and to stick to well-lit, busy streets
*Plan your route beforehand and, as far as possible, do not ask directions from strangers. A police officer or traffic officer will be happy to direct you if you get lost
*Plan your route in advance
*Keep the doors of your vehicle locked and wind the windows up at all times
*Do not leave your mobile phone or other valuables where they are visible from outside the vehicle
*Lock valuable items in the boot (trunk) before your departure
*At night, park in well-lit areas
*Never pick up strangers or hitchhikers
*If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice and help
*Make sure you have the number of the car rental company at hand in case you get stranded
*In the interest of personal safety and having assistance in the case of a physical or medical emergency, it is advisable to explore trails in groups
*Steer away from isolated areas unless accompanied by a guide
