How to avoid Hijacking/Carjacking

All The Time

• Drive and park in well-lit, high-traffic areas. Avoid dark, isolated roads and parking spots.
• Stay visible: carjackers prefer victims who won't be seen by bystanders.
• Always roll up windows before stopping to park or at lights.
• Always lock your doors as soon as you enter the car and don't unlock till about to leave.
• Keep valuables out of sight.
• Report suspicious characters and vehicles to police.
• Be in a group rather than alone. Avoid driving alone where possible.
• Keep your car well-maintained to prevent breakdowns.
• Keep your car filled to avoid running out, or otherwise being forced to refuel.
• Know your destination and route to avoid stopping to look at a map or ask directions.
• Dropping someone off, make sure they are safely in their vehicle before departing.

Parked Environment

• Know the environment and be aware of anything out of the ordinary.
• Check nearby and underneath car, especially if there is shrubbery or hiding spots nearby.
• If loiterers are present, keep away form the vehicle and go to a public area to ask for assistance.
• Check whether you are being followed to your parking spot, and if so go instead to a public area for assistance.
• Have a friend escort you to your parked car (and escort friends as a courtesy).
• Add/remove items from the trunk quickly.
• Have key ready to enter the car as you approach it: do not fumble for keys.
• Do not sit (or sleep) in the car unaware of surroundings.

Driving Environment

• Vary regular routes since professionals plan attacks on particular cars carefully.
• Before parking, check mirror again to see whether you have been followed and continue driving if that is the case.
• Plan an escape route at every intersection: stop 5 meters behind the next car and pick a lane with easy escape.
• Avoid all contact, even eye contact, with pedestrians.
• Use center lane: hijackers find road-side cars easier to attack.
• Drive away hooting if there is a suspicious/hostile approach while stopped at lights. Even turn through a red light if safe to do so.
• Do not pull over randomly to read a map.
• Avoid driving in 'dead hours' of night and early morning.

Common Tricks

• False appeals for help from a "breakdown" or stationary vehicle.
• Bump-n-Rob where you are bumped from behind at traffic lights: common at night, with a carjacker in wait for when you get out. Drive away immediately if it is dark or anything is suspicious.
• Jamming of electric gates.
• Posing as a hitchhiker or faking an injury.
• Posing as a traffic officer, but with unmarked/unofficial vehicle.

If Hijacked

• Exit the car immediately and run.
• If you don't escape the car, crash it into a pole immediately, then run.

Statistics

• About a quarter of all carjackings take place in December.
• Most carjackings take place between 8PM and 11PM (i.e. at night).
• Highest risk in decreasing order: open parking lots, city streets, rural streets, driveways, gas stations.
• Poorest areas (opportunists) and richest areas (professionals) are high risk.

I researched and collated a dozen websites in mynotebook and only then decided to post the list: sorry for lack ofreferences. Shouts out to every other "how to avoid carjacking" article on the web.