Risk management advice my parents gave me to stay safe while walking still holds me in good stead

Bollards installed to protect pedestrians from vehicles.

While cities around the world are no doubt looking at installing a great many more substantial bollards to protect their citizens and tourists from the type of attacks we have seen in Berlin, Nice and most recently London, I recall the risk management advice that was ingrained into me as a child by my parents. That was, where ever possible, to walk on the side of the footpath so that you are walking towards the traffic so that you can see what is coming and have advance warning of a problem.

Of course this is not always feasible, particularly with the myriad of one way streets in some cities around the world including Melbourne but it is advice that I still use to this day when walking, particularly in crowded areas.

The other advice is around ensuring you can hear. Taking calls and listening to music does limit your ability to respond quickly to a dangerous situation around you.

Such events as what just happened in London should not stop any of us travelling and enjoying the sights of this wonderful world but at the same time, taking some basic risk management measures, such as mentioned here are, prudent where ever you go.  That of course also entails having good quality travel insurance with no restrictions for terrorism and good quality medical coverage.