14 Safety Tips To Secure Your Driveway

Your driveway is most likely the most used entry point into your home these days as most of us travel by car to and from home. As we secure our houses with burglar bars, security gates and alarms, it makes it harder for criminals to break in, and they need to adopt new approaches to stay ahead.

Driveways have no become a popular alternative to the standard home invasion, and the driveway gate is the most common point of entry for armed robberies. It has been reported that 85% of all residential contact crimes start at the driveway gate.

These statistics may come as a shock to you, and I'm sure many of us have been pulling in and out of our driveway deep in thought, or nonchalant about our safety, but that has to change. If you want to make it harder for criminals to target you in your driveway, then here are some safety tips that could make all the difference.

1. Clear your driveway

Assess your driveway and look at any spots where a criminal might be able to hide. Large bushes and plants are an ideal camping spot for criminals. By clearing away any potential hiding places for crooks, you can drastically improve the safety of your driveway. If you must have shrubbery, instead choose plants with thorns like rosebushes. Also take care not to leave the municipal bin in your driveway which can give criminals the opportunity to scale walls or hide behind, especially in the dark.

2. Have good lighting

The better the visibility, the less chance there is of criminals attacking your home so ensure that your driveway is well lit. You can also add motion sensor spotlight to one or more areas in your driveway. These spotlights are available at most hardware stores and are both inexpensive and easy to install.

3. Upgrade your gate

A manual gate is a liability as you'll be vulnerable when you open or close your gate. Upgrade to the best automatic gate you can afford. The faster your gate can respond, the better your chances of thwarting criminals.

4. Upgrade your doorbell

Invest in a video-enabled doorbell. They are surprisingly cheap and easy to install. Invest in a video-enabled doorbell. They are surprisingly cheap and easy to install. The ability to see who is at the gate is priceless. Some criminals will ring the doorbell merely to check who's home and perhaps have a look inside when you open your door.

5. Add signage

Even if you don't have a pet pitbull, having a potential intruder believe so is advantageous. Signposting the fact that you have a large dog and an alarm system is well worth the minimal effort and expense.

6. Mirror mirror

The SAPS recommends putting up a mirror in your garage to allow you to see if someone is following you. This is a simple, cheap measure to increase your safety when arriving home.

7. Consider CCTV cameras

The mere presence of a security camera is enough to deter criminals, even if it isn't real. And fakes are surprisingly convincing these days, some also have a red light. If you cannot afford the real deal, you can set up a convincing fake for next to nothing. All the driveway safety tweaks in the world won't help if you are distracted when moving in and out of your driveway.

8. Get your security company involved in your homecoming

Check if your security company offers a meet and greet. In some areas, you can have a guard accompany you and check that you are safely inside, as part of your monthly fee or for a small extra amount.

9. Consider a driveway makeover

If you can add a gravel feature to your landscaping around the driveway, it will give you another layer of security and act as an early warning system. Gravel driveways or pathways make a noise that acts as a deterrent for criminals.

10. Employ common sense

The South African Police Service recommends switching into 'going home mode' once you are 2km from your home. This includes turning off your music and checking your street for suspicious cars or people. A final precaution you can take is instead of driving into your home rather try reversing into your driveway. This manoeuvre will give you an advantage if you are ambushed and allow you to see danger and react quickly.

11. Have a panic button

We cannot plan for everything criminals will do, nor can our safety measures be completely full proof. It all your precautions aren't enough its always a good idea to have panic buttons set up in the house and one on your car keys that alert your armed response service and triggers your home alarm immediately to attract attention and scare off any threats.

12. Have a backup power supply

It's all good and well to have your motorised safety gate and garage doors as well as a state of the art alarm system, but it doesn't help if there isn't anything to power it. Power outages in your area or load shedding could be an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of vulnerable homes. Having a backup power supply like batteries to power your security features for a few hours can make all the difference.

13. Have a family member open up for you

If you have family members at home or those who arrive home earlier than you would give them a call to let them know you're on your way. They can check the driveway beforehand while you circle around the block to check if all is clear before pulling into your home.

14. Involve your neighbourhood watch

Never underestimate the power of your community and the vigilance of a neighbour. If you have a local neighbourhood watch WhatsApp group, send them a message to let them know you're home and if any neighbourhood could keep a lookout for you as you pull in to your driveway or if any of the patrols could come around your place during that time.

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Registering with nichemarket is easy; all you will need to do is head over to our sign up form and follow the instructions. If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles.

• How to create a nichemarketer profile
• How to create a nichemarket business listing

Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have time to spare why not check out these related posts and dive deeper down the rabbit hole that is safety and security.

• Get Your Safety & Security Business Listed Online
• Best Reasons to Invest in a Home Security System
• 11 Tips For Installing Security Gates

Tags: Home Security