BRAG is a system that anyone from around 5-years old can use to grade their personal safety.

For example, as I type this I should be in the safest colour which is Green. The reasons for this are;

1) All of my doors are locked.

2) People tend not to burgle houses at this time of night, especially as a lot of the lights are on.

3) I live in a 'good' area.

Obviously 3) might not apply to everyone, so some people might well have themselves at the next colour, Amber, despite the fact that they're 'safely' back at home.

If I was to leave my house at night, I would put myself into Amber. The reasons for this are;

1) It's dark, I can't see as well during the dark and there are many places that people can hide it, despite the street lights.

2) It's winter and currently cold and wet. I therefore have more layers on, my visibility is reduced and due to wearing a hat, so is my hearing to some degree.

Again, if I was in a bad area, such as the main drag in Amsterdam where all the 'bird seed' sellers turn into class-A drug pushers at night, I might well put myself into Red.

If I was walking along the High Street after kicking-out time and - whether or not I was sober or drunk - noticed that a bunch of lads were walking behind me making comments about me, I would put myself at Red.

If those same lads then started to address me directly in a threatening manner, followed me when I crossed the road and attempted to close the gap, shouting at me all the time then I would be putting myself into the final colour. Black. 

Whenever you find yourself in a state of Black, you have to work yourself down to Green as quickly as possible. If you are being attacked, then this will most likely mean incapacitating your attacker, successfully calling for help and being taken to hospital or the police station by the authorities. 

If you were a single female being followed at night by someone who makes you feel distinctly uncomfortable, you would be in Black. Hailing a taxi and being taken home would put you straight into Green.

This is the reason that we call it BRAG instead of GARB. Green is your destination, not the start of your journey.