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Realising that someone may be following you can be frightening. You may notice the same person behind you for several streets, or a vehicle that continues to follow after you make several turns.

There may be an innocent explanation, but never ignore your instincts if you genuinely feel in danger. Stay calm, avoid confrontation, and move towards people who can help.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

You do not need proof that someone is following you before taking precautions. Keep moving while discreetly watching the person or vehicle.

If it is safe, try to remember:

• The person’s clothing and appearance.
• The vehicle’s colour, make, and model.
• The registration number.
• The direction in which they are travelling.

Do not stare, take obvious photographs, or behave in a way that could provoke the person. Remove your earphones, put your phone away unless you are using it to get help, and pay attention to the people, traffic, and activity around you.

Do Not Go Home

Going home could show the person where you live. You could also become trapped outside your property while waiting for the gate to open.

If you are walking, enter a busy, well-lit place, such as a supermarket, pharmacy, shopping centre, petrol station, or building with security. Approach a staff member or security guard, and say clearly: “I think someone is following me. Please help me contact emergency assistance.”

Avoid quiet streets, parks, open fields, alleys, and shortcuts. Stay near other people, security guards, and CCTV cameras where possible.

If You Are Driving

Lock the doors, close the windows, and do not drive home, to your workplace, or to a relative’s property. Head towards a police station, busy petrol station, shopping centre, or another public place with visible security.

Drive normally, and obey the rules of the road. Speeding, skipping robots, or making a dangerous U-turn could cause a collision. Leave enough space between your vehicle and the one ahead, so you can move away if someone comes near while you are stopped.

Do not pull over if the other driver flashes their lights or signals that something is wrong with your vehicle. Do not get out to confront them. Switch on your hazard lights, and continue carefully toward a secure place while requesting help.

Ask For Help Early

Contact someone you trust. Tell them what is happening, where you are, and which direction you are travelling. Share your live location if possible, and mention nearby landmarks, street names, taxi ranks, petrol stations, or shopping centres.

The free iER app can provide extra support in an emergency. Its Silent and General one-touch alerts connect users to iER’s 24/7 call centre. When mobile internet and location services are enabled, the alert shares the user’s GPS position. This helps the team assess the situation and connect the user to a suitable service within iER’s nationwide network of more than 18,000 emergency service providers.

When it is safe, users can also send photographs and voice messages through the in-app chat. Alternatively, call the iER response centre on 0861 10 60 80.

Download the app, register, and complete your details before an emergency happens. Setting up an account will be much harder when you are frightened or under pressure.

When Using Public Transport

If you are travelling by bus, train, minibus taxi, or e-hailing vehicle, tell the driver, a security officer, or another passenger that you feel unsafe. Do not get off at a quiet stop, or walk away from a busy taxi rank alone.

If the suspected follower gets off at the same place, stay near uniformed security, transport staff, or other passengers. Call someone you trust, and ask them to meet you in a busy, visible area.

Never accept a lift from a stranger who suddenly offers to “help”. If you are using an e-hailing service, check that the driver, vehicle, and registration number match the details shown in the app before getting in.

If the Person Approaches You

Head towards a busy, well-lit place where security is present. Shout: “Stay away from me. I do not know you.” This will attract attention and make it clear that the person is not with you.

If you are in immediate danger, activate an iER alert, and shout for help. Never agree to go anywhere with the person. If they have a weapon, stay calm, and avoid sudden movements. Focus on surviving and getting to safety.

Report the Incident

Once you are safe, write down everything you remember. Keep any messages, photographs, call records, vehicle details, and information about nearby CCTV cameras.

Report repeated following, watching, threats, or unwanted contact to the police. If it happened near a shopping centre, school, workplace, residential estate, or petrol station, ask security to save the CCTV footage before it is deleted.

Conclusion

If you think someone is following you, stay in public, avoid confronting them, do not go home, and ask for help as soon as possible. Knowing what to do beforehand can help you act quickly if this happens.

With one-touch alerts, GPS location sharing, in-app communication, and access to a 24/7 call centre, the free iER app connects users to emergency assistance when every moment matters. Learn more or download the app from the official iER website.