When you’re at home, you want to know and feel like you’re safe. There are a lot of technology innovations for security that have evolved over the years to make people feel more safe and comfortable in their home. From cameras to full on surveillance systems, homeowners can record the goings-on nearby to their house which is incredibly helpful in terms of protecting their property.
Outside the home, people still want to know that they are safe and feel like they’re safe. Certain cities have protocols like blue light stations where if you’re feeling unsafe, you can stop by there when you’re walking at night. Cities large and small are more likely to see people out and about at night than a smaller, more rural or suburban town might, which is why these stations are more commonplace there. In more rural areas, people are likely still out and about at night but there’s a sense of security in smaller towns.
However, a sense of security does not actually mean that you are safe. And to take that a step further, there are surely some places where people are far safer than they feel.
A recent study about crime rates compared with locals’ perceptions of safety showcases the differences in reality and perception of safety in each of the U.S. states. For instance, people living in Washington state have a much higher perceived sense of safety than their actual crime rate shows. So, let’s talk about Texas.
The study on safety perceptions versus reality revealed Texans feel the least safe walking alone at night. On a 1-5 (one being worst, five being best) scale, the average Texan perception of safety is only 3.29 While this ties with Tennessee, that says a lot about how safe Texans feel in their home state.
It’s been shown that the crime rate is declining all over the United States. Texas, a border state, may have declining crime rates too, but it is still ranked 46 in terms of the safest states to live in. With the highest level of uninsured individuals in the US, WalletHub ranked Texas as one of the least safest states. What’s interesting in the comparison of the two studies is that Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi are all on the lower end of the ranking of the safest states in the country.
Do you agree? How would you rank your personal safety and your perception of safety as a Texan? Let us know!