More women are thinking twice about the people they let into their lives, particularly when it comes to their romantic lives. Women who date online are more likely to consider their safety and take measures to ensure safety on the first date than anyone else, according to a recent study. It's just smart to take a few precautions when you're headed out to meet virtually a perfect stranger for the first time. When your relationship is still in the "online" phase, be sure not to give out your last name. It's easy to Google someone with their full name to learn all kinds of information – where you work and even your home address could be accessible.  Having a land line at your home and giving that number to your date or just calling him if he has caller ID can allow him to use reverse lookup to find your full name and address. A cell phone number is safer, but perhaps you'll want to limit contact to email until you get to know one another better.
Many women know this, but it bears repeating to meet in a public place – a restaurant, coffee shop or other spot where there is safety in numbers is the way to go. If you go on a date, drive yourself – this keeps him from knowing where you live while offering you your own transportation home should things go badly. Be sure to have cash on hand for public transportation if you choose to use it. Schedule a check-in with a friend who can call you at an appointed time to ensure that you're OK. Let your date know about the call if you like – if he's not OK with it, then that's definitely a red flag. Just be courteous about taking calls, particularly if things are going well. As the date ends, feel free to share a kiss if you're into it – just don't let him get you into your car to continue the make-out session. The car can be a danger zone if you're parked in a dark area or on a deserted street.