Transportation Safety Checklist

Guidance on safe travel, tracking awareness, and vehicle checks.

Transportation Safety Checklist

Car Readiness

Options to review before using a car for planned travel.

• Fuel level:
  • Keep at least a quarter tank of fuel if possible.
  • Know nearby gas stations that feel low-risk for you (lighting, cameras, distance from home or work).
• Basic function:
  • Check lights (headlights, brake lights, turn signals).
  • Check tire condition and pressure visually.
  • Confirm wipers work and washer fluid is available.
  • Notice any new noises or dashboard warning lights.
• Keys and access:
  • Know where all keys and fobs are stored.
  • Consider whether anyone else has extra keys or remote access to the vehicle.
  • If safe for you, decide whether to keep a spare key in a secure location outside the home.
• Registration and documents:
  • Confirm registration and inspection (if required where you live) are current.
  • Know where registration, insurance, and license are stored.
  • Consider whether it is safe for certain people to see your current address on documents.
• Supplies:
  • Phone charger or power bank.
  • Small amount of cash or payment method stored separately from your main wallet if that feels useful.
  • Weather-appropriate clothing or blanket.
  • Water and simple snacks, if safe to store.
  • Printed list of important numbers if it is safer than storing them in your phone.
• Control of the vehicle:
  • Consider whose name is on the title, lease, or insurance.
  • Note whether any tracking, usage, or “family sharing” features were set up by someone else.
  • Decide whether it is safer to use your usual car, another vehicle, or public transportation for specific trips.

Hidden Trackers Check

Ways to review vehicles and travel devices for possible tracking tools.

Phone and Apps

• Location services:
  • Review which apps have location access (always, while using, never).
  • Consider whether to turn off location services for apps that do not need it.
• Account sharing:
  • Check for shared accounts such as “family” or “device” sharing.
  • Look for shared locations with other people in mapping or messaging apps.
  • Review any shared calendars that contain your movements.
• Backups and syncing:
  • See which devices are connected to your accounts (phones, tablets, cars, wearables).
  • Consider whether anyone else knows your account passwords or has had physical access to your devices.

Car Technology

• Built-in systems:
  • Check saved profiles on the car’s infotainment or navigation system.
  • Review stored addresses such as “Home,” “Work,” or recent destinations.
  • Look for any “vehicle locator,” “remote start,” or “connected services” accounts and who controls them.
• Paired devices:
  • Open the car’s Bluetooth menu and review the list of paired phones or devices.
  • Remove devices you do not recognize or do not want connected.
• Aftermarket devices:
  • Look under the dashboard, inside storage compartments, near the OBD-II port (diagnostic outlet usually under the steering area), and near the rear window for plug-in devices.
  • Note items plugged into power outlets or USB ports that you did not install.
  • Check dash cams, “teen driver” devices, or insurance trackers for who set them up and who can access the data.

Physical Trackers

• Common hiding spots:
  • Under seats, between seat cushions, and seat pockets.
  • Glove box, center console, side-door pockets.
  • Under floor mats and in trunk compartments (including spare tire well).
  • On the exterior frame or undercarriage, especially magnet-based trackers on metal surfaces.
• Signs of a tracker:
  • Small devices or tiles attached to keyrings, bags, or hidden in the vehicle.
  • Unfamiliar key fobs or “tags” among your belongings.
• Alerts:
  • Pay attention to any phone notifications about an unknown device moving with you.
  • If you receive such alerts, consider documenting them with screenshots.

Safe Routes Planning

Steps to consider when planning safer routes or travel patterns.

Before You Travel

• Trip purpose:
  • Decide what information about this trip feels safe to share with others.
  • Consider alternatives (phone call, online option, reschedule) if travel raises safety concerns.
• Route options:
  • Map at least two possible routes (primary and backup).
  • Identify routes that avoid locations where you are more likely to be followed or confronted, if possible.
  • Note well-lit areas and public locations along the way.
• Timing:
  • Choose travel times that feel lower-risk for you (lighting, traffic levels, other people around).
  • Build in extra time so you are not pressured to rush or take shortcuts you prefer to avoid.

Along the Route

• Check-in points:
  • Identify safe places along the route where you could stop if needed (stores, public buildings, transit hubs).
  • Choose any locations where you would feel more comfortable making a phone call or adjusting your plans.
• Parking:
  • Look for well-lit parking areas near building entrances when possible.
  • If using garages, note where cameras or staffed areas are located.
  • Consider backing into a spot for easier exit, if it feels safe to do so.
• Pattern review:
  • Review whether you use the same routes and parking spots every time.
  • Consider varying your routes and times if that feels safer and practical for your situation.

Public Transit and Rideshare

• Public transportation:
  • Check schedules and transfer points in advance.
  • Identify stations or stops that have staff, cameras, or more foot traffic.
  • Plan where you would go if you wanted to get off earlier than planned.
• Rideshare or taxis:
  • Verify the license plate and driver information before getting in.
  • Decide whether to set your pickup or drop-off point slightly away from your exact home or work if that feels safer.
  • Consider if it is safe to use your usual account or whether a different payment method or account makes more sense.

Sharing Alerts and Travel Information

Ways to share travel details while considering privacy and safety.

Deciding What to Share

• Information types:
  • Exact start and end locations.
  • General area only (for example, “north side of town”).
  • Expected arrival time and check-in time.
  • Route details or just “driving” or “on the bus.”
• Who to share with:
  • Consider who has shown they will use information in ways that support your safety and choices.
  • Decide whether sharing with one trusted person or multiple people makes more sense for you.

Tools for Sharing Location

• Temporary sharing:
  • Many mapping and messaging apps allow location sharing for a limited time window.
  • Review how to start and stop sharing before you travel.
• Persistent sharing:
  • Check whether your location is being shared all the time with anyone.
  • Decide if you want to keep, change, or turn off any ongoing sharing.
• Non-digital check-ins:
  • Agree on simple check-in messages (for example, “Leaving now,” “Arrived,” “Running 15 minutes late”).
  • Consider using code words or phrases if open communication is not always safe.

Alert Plans

• Check-in schedule:
  • Set expected check-in times (before leaving, upon arrival, after the event, returning home).
  • Clarify what the other person should do if they do not hear from you by a certain time.
• Backup responses:
  • Identify who your contact would reach out to if they were concerned (if anyone).
  • Decide whether it is helpful for someone to have a copy of your usual routes or destinations.
• Privacy boundaries:
  • Communicate what kind of follow-up feels supportive and what feels intrusive.
  • Adjust your plan if any person begins using travel information in ways that feel unsafe or controlling.

Quick Review Checklist

• Car readiness:
  • Fuel, tires, lights, wipers checked.
  • Documents stored where you can reach them.
  • Supplies available (charger, cash or payment, weather gear).
• Hidden trackers:
  • Phone location and app permissions reviewed.
  • Car’s connected services, Bluetooth, and saved profiles checked.
  • Interior and exterior scanned for unfamiliar devices.
• Safe routes:
  • Primary and backup routes identified.
  • Safer parking and stop points noted.
  • Public transit or rideshare plans reviewed if you use them.
• Sharing alerts:
  • Decisions made about what to share and with whom.
  • Check-in times agreed on, if helpful.
  • Location sharing tools tested and adjusted.

Recommended Articles

• Digital Safety and Tracking
• Safety Planning Checklist
• Staying Safe When Leaving Home
• Using Technology More Safely
• Privacy and Location Settings