Having your own ride means you can leave the moment the vibe goes wrong.

Having your own way home changes what you can afford to notice. When the ride belongs to somebody else, you talk yourself out of leaving: it would be awkward, they are having fun, you can stand another hour. So you stay somewhere your gut left ages ago, and the night gets worse in a way nobody else has to sit through.

Sort out the exit before you go, every time. Bus fare, a bike, a friend who will come, a number you can call without embarrassment. Independence here is extremely literal, and it is what lets you take your own read of a room seriously.