there are neighborhoods I don’t drive through especially in the SS..and never at night...not even in the daytime...
In my hometown, which I moved back to 15 years ago after being gone for 40 years, you could tape a $20 bill to your forehead and walk anywhere, day or night. The worst that would happen is, someone would stop to give you a ride and ask why you have money taped to your head.
Forty miles south of here . . . totally different. I would not walk down East 4th Street in that town in broad daylight on a Sunday (or any other day).
As someone said a few posts before, situational awareness. In self defense classes, the instructors all show you an "alert" scale with five colors. Middle color is yellow, top color is red. The difference is SAFETY ON or SAFETY OFF. ALWAYS be on yellow. Switch to red if ANYTHING seems odd. Remember, "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't REALLY out to get you." PAY ATTENTION!