Tips to Help You Prepare and Stay Aware

The UC Davis Police Department remains committed to reflecting our community's values, evolving our practices, and ensuring that every student and employee feels secure and heard. We recognize safety is a shared responsibility. Together, by looking out for one another and staying informed, we can maintain the safety and well-being of our campus community.

Personal Safety

• Stay Aware: Pay attention to your surroundings, especially during the evening.
• Minimize Distractions: Avoid using your phone or wearing headphones when walking or biking. If you prefer to listen to something, keep one ear free.
• Notice Your Exit Options: Familiarize yourself with your location, including potential vulnerabilities.
• Guard Your Belongings: Avoid leaving valuable items like laptops and bags unattended. Keep bags close to your body.
• Your Safety First: If faced with a threat, prioritize your safety over your possessions.
• Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, seek a safe location or contact campus police.

Building Security

• Keep Locked Doors Secure: A locked door is a safe door. Never compromise security by propping a locked door open, sharing access details or allowing people you don’t know to walk in with you (sometimes called “tailgating”).
• Know Your Neighbors: They can be valuable allies in spotting suspicious activities.
• Check Locks When Leaving: Make sure doors and windows are locked when you exit, even if you’re just stepping out for a short break.

Travel Smart

• Select Safe Routes: Travel through well-lit, populated areas. Avoid remote or secluded locations, especially at night.
• Buddy System: Whenever possible, walk with a friend or group, especially at night.
• Get a Ride: If you’re walking at night, Safe Rides is a free service from the UC Davis Police Department that picks you up from campus locations. 
• Emergency Points: Familiarize yourself with the locations of emergency call boxes throughout campus. Use them when in doubt or feeling unsafe.

Bicycle and Scooter Safety

• Lock Your Bike: Invest in a robust U-lock and always lock your bicycle in visible, well-lit areas. Use additional chains or cables for parts like quick-release wheels and seats. 
• Stay Visible: California law requires bicyclists use a forward-facing white light and rear red reflector (or light) after dusk. Check out Lit Not Hit if you need a light.
• Obey All Traffic Laws: Make sure to stop at stop signs, ride on the right side of the road or bike path and follow other rules of the road. Get more bike education from Transportation Services. 
• Avoid BUI: Remember, bicycling under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only illegal, but also hazardous.
• Register Your Bike: All bicycles on campus must have a UC Davis-issued bicycle registration sticker (bicycle license). A bike registration sticker can make it more difficult for a thief to sell your bike. 
• Scooters and E-Bikes Too: Know that electric bikes and scooters are subject to many of the same safety guidelines as bicycles on campus, with additional limitations on parking. Lock it up, stay visible, get registered and obey all traffic laws. See UC Davis Traffic Code for more details.

Vehicle Safety

• Lock Everything: Before leaving your vehicle, double-check to ensure all windows are up and doors are locked. Even a slightly open window can provide easy access for thieves.
• Hide Valuables: Avoid leaving valuables like laptops, bags or even loose change in plain view. Use the glove compartment or trunk, or better yet, take them with you.
• Use an Anti-Theft Device: Invest in anti-theft devices specifically designed for catalytic converters or consider engraving your vehicle identification number (VIN) onto your car’s catalytic converter.
• Report Suspicious Sounds: Familiarize yourself with the sounds of tools like saws that thieves might use to remove parts from cars. If you hear suspicious noises, especially during daylight hours, call UC Davis Police.

Campus Safety Preparedness

• Update Your Emergency Contacts: Add your preferred contact information for emergency notifications, such as a cell phone number or a personal email address, by updating your information in the UC Davis WarnMe system. Consider downloading our campus safety app, Everbridge, as another way to stay updated in emergency situations.
• Save Our Number: Add the UC Davis Police Department’s emergency (911 or 530-752-1230) and non-emergency (530-752-1727) numbers to your phone’s contacts. 
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you see something, say something. Your vigilance contributes to the safety of our entire community.
• Attend Safety Workshops: Join UC Davis Police Department workshops that cover essential safety practices such as self-defense.

Traffic Safety Tips

• Use Crosswalks and Pedestrian Signals: Always cross streets at designated crosswalks and obey pedestrian signals. This ensures you are visible to drivers and reduces the risk of accidents.
• Wear Helmets and Use Bike Lights: If you are biking, wear a helmet to protect yourself in case of falls or collisions. Use bike lights, especially at night, to increase your visibility to drivers.
• Follow Traffic Laws: Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits and stop signs. This applies to both drivers and cyclists.
• Use Safe Routes to School: Utilize safe routes to school programs that provide well-lit and less congested paths. These routes are designed to enhance safety for students commuting to and from school.
• Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions: Whether walking, biking, or driving, stay alert and avoid distractions like using your phone. Being aware of your surroundings can help you react quickly to potential hazards.

Traffic Safety Programs at UC Davis

• UC Davis has adopted the Vision Zero framework, which aims to eliminate traffic tragedies by prioritizing human life and safety over convenience. This initiative includes slowing down traffic, increasing visibility, and improving awareness.
• UC Davis has introduced the Traffic Ambassador Program, where trained students assist with traffic flow during congested times, particularly near the Silo bus terminal. These ambassadors help manage road user and pedestrian traffic, ensuring safe movement around campus.
• UC Davis requires all drivers of university vehicles to complete a “safe driver awareness” training course. Additionally, student orientation sessions address transportation safety, and safety incentive programs for helmets and lights are available.
• UC Davis Transportation Services offers various safety programs, including training for safe riding on campus and managing traffic during major events. These programs are designed to promote safe travel and responsible sharing of roads and paths.

Respect Our Community

• Collaborate: The UC Davis Police Department continually seeks feedback to make our campus safer. If you see one of our officers or safety specialists, stop and say “Hi.”
• Be Inclusive: Respect everyone’s experience, and promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
• Support for Victims: If you've been affected by crime, remember you're not alone. Consider reporting the crime and reaching out to support programs designed to assist victims.