Many of you, if you haven’t already this morning, will be heading out to get your hands on the great deals retailers are offering on this black Friday.

One of the first things you should do in order to have a safe shopping experience is to make good decisions behind the wheel says trooper Joey Watson with ISP district 13 in Du Quoin.

Watson says once you arrive at the mall or your favorite store, make yourself aware of your surroundings and pay attention to the actions of others.

Trooper watson says if you are going to shop online, make sure to use reputable websites.

Watson says you should also check with your credit card company to make sure they have a guarantee that will protect you if something goes wrong while shopping online. He says some websites like Amazon and eBay also have remedies to help you in case a problem arises.