University of Georgia

Campus Safety

The University of Georgia Crime Prevention Unit works to provide a safe secure environment for faculty, staff, and students. The University is an open campus with threats of the real world. This article, constructed by the Crime Prevention Unit, provides general information to help you become better aware of your environment and reduce the chances of you becoming a victim.

Three Basic Personal Safety Rules:

DO: Stay alert, keep your mind on what’s around you.

DO: Communicate the message that you’re calm, confident and know where you’re going. Stand tall, walk purposely and make eye contract.

DO: Trust you instincts. If something does not feel right, it probably isn’t.

Safety in the Public…

  • When walking with one other person you reduce your chance of becoming a victim by 63%.
  • When walking with more then one other person you reduce your chance of becoming a victim by more than 90%.
  • Never walk or jog alone.
  • Avoid poorly lit streets, alleys, vacant lots, and parking lots.
  • Walk close to the curb surroundings, don’t be overconfidence.
  • Attackers look for a passive victim, so walk with a steady pace and appear purposeful.

Safety in your Residence…

  • Seven hundred twenty burglaries occur every hour, one every five seconds.
  • In a recent year more than 6.5 million burglaries were estimated to have occurred. (One out of every twelve households.)
  • List only your last name and first initial on mailboxes and in the phone book.
  • Do not allow strangers in your residence.
  • Keep all entrances well illuminated.
  • Use good deadbolt locks and solid core doors.
  • Do not give personal information over the phone.

Safety in your Vehicle…

  • Every 33 seconds a car is stolen.
  • Car jacking is steadily becoming the crime of choice.
  • Always lock your car doors even while you are inside you vehicle.
  • From a distance, look around and underneath your vehicle before approaching.
  • Look in your back seat.
  • Have your keys in your hand and ready to unlock your car door.

Safety in the Office…

  • In the average office setting, there is at least one breach of building security.
  • Make a difference by taking the “opportunity” out of theft.
  • Program 911 or Police phone number into automatic dialing.
  • Secure your area and building when leaving.
  • Keep purses in locked area.
  • Call Police for assistance:
  • A strange person
  • Help to a car
  • Help securing building

Domestic Violence…

  • In 95% of incidents of Domestic Violence, women are the victims.
  • An estimated 4,000 American women die each year at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends.
  • Often he uses intimidation making her afraid by using looks and gestures.
  • He can use emotional abuse by putting her down or making her feel bad about herself.
  • Isolation is often used though controlling what she does and whom she sees.
  • Treating her as a servant, making all the big decisions and acting like the master of castle.

 

For more information regarding these topics, please contact (706) 542-0104 or (706) 542-0411.

 

For information on sexual assaults and sexual assault prevention, contact or visit the following organizations:

UGA Women's Clinic

(706) 542-8691

 

UGA Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP)

(706) 542-8690
(706) 542-SAFE(7233) *24 Hour Hotline*

 

Rape Crisis Hotline

(706) 353-1912

 

The Cottage Center

(706) 353-1912
1-877-363-1912

 

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

www.rainn.org

Several roads and walkways on the University of Georgia campus intersect or border railroad tracks. The University of Georgia Police Department would like to inform you of simple safety tips that will make the train tracks on our campus safer for pedestrians and automobiles.

Train tracks are private property, no matter which railroad owns them. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time- over ambulances, fire engines, cars, the police and pedestrians. Any person found on train tracks that is not authorized to be there is subject to arrest for criminal trespass.

The University of Georgia Police Department has created an "E-Commerce Safety Zone" as a service to the University Community.

E-Commerce, or the purchasing/trading of items and products through the internet, has increased dramatically over the last few years. Unfortunately, some of these transactions throughout the country have turned into scams, robberies, or worse. The UGA Police Department has created a clearly marked, well-lit place available in its parking lot for people making transactions with others they've met on popular internet sites such as ebay, Craig's List, and more. This space also has video surveillance.

Pamphlet

With the price of gasoline rising and the growth in interest in the impact of large vehicle emissions on the environment, many people in the University of Georgia community are switching to alternate modes of transportation. Examples of these are bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles. As with anything, there are issues related to all of these options that a person needs to be aware of.

We have placed radar signs around campus, primarily in high congestion areas with vehicle and pedestrian traffic concerns. These signs represent a high-visibility way of alerting motorists of their speed as they approach highly congested areas where vehicle / pedestrian accidents may be more likely to occur. These signs have been placed to help educate motorists and reduce the need for enforcement in these areas. Please be careful traveling around campus whether in a vehicle, on a bike, or walking. We want all members of our community to get where they're going safely! Thanks and GO DAWGS!

Safety in the dorm room may not be the first thought on a student's mind, but it should be their main concern. While dormitories are a great place to meet new friends and socialize, they can also be dangerous if the proper precautions aren't taken. With a solid security plan and some safeguards in place, you can stay safe in your home away from home.

Pamphlet

Lower your phone's profile in public

As smart phones have become more popular and more expensive, phone theft is increasing dramatically. According to the Federal Communications Commission, one in three robberies nationwide now involves taking a phone.

Students should know their mobile devices are at risk when they're using them in public, for example at a library, coffee shop or restaurant, or while in transit on public transportation, particularly when boarding or leaving a bus, streetcar, or train. Today's smartphone is a full-fledged computer that stores all kinds of sensitive personal data: passwords, contacts, documents, Internet history, and more.

Pamphlets

 

Heads Up Bulldogs!

We know that distracted driving is a safety issue, but distracted walking can be just as problematic. Looking down to read a text or listening to music through ear buds makes pedestrians unaware of their surroundings and presents a safety hazard. The graphics below will be sent to students today, posted around campus, used on social media, and made available to our campus communicators. You, too, are invited to print and use these posters to encourage members of our community to be mindful of their surroundings.

 

Heads Up Bulldogs! Put Down your phone. Take out your earbuds. Distracted walking is dangerous walking.

 

Heads Up Bulldogs! Put Down your phone. Take out your earbuds. Distracted walking is dangerous walking.

Heads Up Bulldogs! Put Down your phone. Take out your earbuds. Distracted driving is dangerous driving.

 

Governor's Office of Highway Safety Flyer

Click the image below to download this flyer provided by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety

We encourage everyone to do their part to eliminate distracted driving. Cell phones, iPods, fast-food items and driver drowsiness are preventing Georgia motorists from focusing on the roadway more than ever. According to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, more than 80% of all vehicle crashes now involve some type of distraction - the most frequent being cell phone usage within three seconds of the crash.

Subcategories

Traffic Safety