Home » Defensive Driving Tips

Defensive Driving Tips

[hidepost=1] Defensive Driving Tips Even the most violent criminals have to mentally work themselves up before they commit a crime. To the untrained eye, acts of violence happen suddenly. Often violence seems to explode right in front of you. But in reality, the suspect tends to send out “signals” of his intentions. Reading these “behavior indicators” is far from an exact science. Yet criminals who are prepared to commit a violent attack often consciously or unconsciously telegraph the plan. Early Warning Signals you should watch for include: You get the feeling that a vehicle is following you. Trust your instincts. A simple test is to make four right or left turns around the block. If the vehicle is still following, then don’t panic, drive to the nearest source of help; police, a restaurant, somewhere with lots of people and good lighting. You have less than half a tank full of gas. Some years ago, a woman traveling across country with her physically handicapped son ran low on gas and needed to get off the freeway and try to find a gas station in an unfamiliar town. They strayed into a bad part of town, and when they stopped to ask for directions were set upon and robbed and beaten by members of a local street gang. The two lessons to be learned here are: One: Don’t let your car’s gas tank get less than half full. In this way, you choose when and where to fill up. Two: Don’t ignore your instincts. If you get a “feeling” that something is wrong, take action. The three most likely places you will be carjacked: On a lonely stretch of road, another vehicle can deliberately cause a fender bender. When you pull over to check the damage, the occupants of the other vehicle drag you out of your car and rob and assault you. In some cases, there may be more than one vehicle involved. KEEP DRIVING. Signal the other driver to follow you, and go directly to a place with plenty of people, a restaurant, a police station-signal a police car to stop if you see one-a fire house, and report the accident. At a gas station: You leave the keys in the ignition while you go inside to pay. A thief slips behind the wheel and drives away in your car. You may be safe, but what about your child in the back seat? ALWAYS LOCK THE DOORS AND TAKE YOUR KEYS WITH YOU. You stop at a Stop sign or a red traffic light. A Carjacker approaches your driver side door with a weapon. His partner approaches the passenger side of your vehicle. If you’re really lucky, they may ONLY pull you and your passengers out of the vehicle and drive it away. Or, they may make you drive them to a remote location where they can do anything with you that they want. ALWAYS KEEP ALL DOORS LOCKED. Be aware of your surroundings at all times-front, back and sides of your vehicle. If something seems really wrong, then drive away, even if you have to cautiously run that red light. Early morning and late night driving are the most dangerous times to be in your car. Over 85% of all car-jackings or robbery attempts take place at these times. The tactics for a successful ambush are pretty basic: First, they want to catch you by surprise. Second, they must have a better knowledge of the terrain than you. Third, they usually want greater mobility and speed than you have. Last, they want to be able to quickly take command of the situation. Most vehicle ambushes occur near your home or place of business. You must be aware and you must look for danger zones. If possible, vary your route and time each day so that you are not predictable. As you drive to and from work, ask yourself, “If I were a bad guy, where would I conduct an ambush?” Narrow or one-way streets are dangerous because it’s impossible to maneuver your car. Winding roads that slow you down, railroad and school crossing zones are also dangerous. Empty back roads, devoid of witnesses or Good Samaritans, may be a useful shortcut, but they can be ideal places for an attack. Blind spots in the road such as a crest of a hill or blind corners offer the opportunity to intercept your car and give your attacker the element of surprise. Once you identify the danger zones, the next important step is to find a safe haven, a location where you can find safety in an emergency. Choose areas that are brightly illuminated with plenty of people, such as police stations, fire stations, hospitals, large shopping centers, even military bases. Decide in advance what you will do if you are attacked by people in another vehicle. Play the “What If?” game: What if they block the road ahead? What if they ram my vehicle? What if I am stopped in traffic and they try to open my door? Rehearse your options in your mind and be ready to use them without further thought. Remember that surprise is the key element in any ambush. Remember also that in stressful situations, training and planning takes over. By being alert, having a better knowledge of the danger zones you drive through and planning for trouble, you should be able to avoid problems. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]