Safety

One of the more pleasant aspects of living in New Haven is that it often feels like a small town. However, it is an urban environment, which means that it is important to take the safety precautions you would take in a big city anywhere. “Better safe than sorry,” is an expression that means you should follow your instincts about staying safe. Although Yale University has its own patrol and the City of New Haven police force patrols the surrounding areas on foot, bike and horseback, remember that they cannot be all places at all times.

Sensitivity to cultural differences can be extremely helpful when applying safety rule number one: Trust your instincts. Understandably, trusting one’s instincts can be tricky in an unfamiliar culture since not everything will make sense. Avoid unnecessary risk by taking time to learn about your new environment and culture, and get to know local resources and advice for staying safe. Most likely you will not encounter problems in the U.S., but it is always a good idea to know and heed the following safety tips.