RCMP and NWAC launch Hitchhiking Safety Campaign

The RCMP and Native Women's Association of Canada have combined their efforts to try and raise more awareness on the dangers that hitchhiking present, particularly with the focus of incidents of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

As part of the awareness campaign, the two groups have created a poster campaign, which provides safety concern issues for women to consider.

Among the themes that the poster campaign delivers, are things that need to be considered if you accept rides from strangers:

Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get there.

Make sure to advise family and friends that you have arrived safely.

Carry a mobile phone and identification with you at all times.

Use roads that are heavily travelled.

Always make note  of the description of anyone who offers a ride, including the make of the vehicle.

Share any information you have regarding suspicious people with police, as it could Save a life!

Most importantly, those that do hitchhike are urged to Trust their instincts, if someone offering a ride makes you feel uncomfortable, the best course is to not get in the car.

As part of the safety campaign, the RCMP provides some background on hitchhiking and some of the risks involved in the activity.

There is more on the awareness program from this media release from the RCMP