| amount of space around our vehicle in all
four directions as it moves along. This space should be enough to
allow you the time to escape in the event of a road hazard or an attack.
The second rule is to scan well ahead. Many driving schools preach
to look at least 12 seconds ahead. This allows adequate time for
the driver to identify, interpret, and react to a given situation.
While he agrees with this rule, Ricci has found |
it difficult for most people to judge exactly
what 12 seconds is in a moving vehicle. So, make it simple. Look ahead
as far as you can see. If you can see it, you should predict that
it might be a potential hazard. Two Second Rule As a general rule, when following a vehicle, you should try to
leave a minimum of two seconds of space in front of |
you. Pick a stationary object in or on
the side of the roadway. Once the car in front of you passes this
object count off "one one thousand, two one thousand." If
you reach the object before you finish counting, then you need to
slow down and leave more following distance. Ricci believes most planned attacks are based on a perceieved target weakness. It's very difficult to overcome once the attack process takes |
place.
Generally, an attack is based on a specific target; this target allows the
attacker to achieve a specific goal. The most popular goal would be based
on financial reasons, however other popular reasons revolve around religious
and political issues.
Deliberate vs. Random
Ninety percent of the time, an attack is a well thought out plan, right down to the very last detail. Advanced planning and threat detection play a very significant role in being safe. Once in route, the driver must pay attention and recognize a dangerous situation (ambush or roadway hazard). The main reaction should always be to keep the vehicle moving.
On occasion, you may be the target of a random attack, the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is common in large cities where carjackings are more common. Sometimes your run-of-the-mill street thug will plan to hit the next car that looks like the owner has money. You might just happen to be it.
The only reaction at this point would be to get the car moving. A non-professional terrorist has not put much planning into his/her crime. Therefore, the plan will be easier to foil. Don't be a victim of circumstance. Learn to recognize a dangerous situation and move!
Three Step Plan
It
matters not what type of attack you may encounter, there are three key
elements to all attacks. Surprise, Control and Escape. The attacker must
first be able to surprise you. For example, if a thief came skipping up
to the side of your vehicle wearing pink tights and politely said something
to the effect of: "Scuse me, I would like your car," would you
laugh uncontrollably at him or would you get out and hand over the keys?
I trust your response would be to laugh and drive away with a great story for the dinner table that night. Surprise, on the other hand, would be some dirtbag at your window waving a weapon and screaming, "Get out of the car... give me the money!"
Don't fool yourself into believing you're always going to be mentally
prepared for this. Most of us allow our minds to wander when sitting in
the "safe" confines of our car. You may be thinking of that
report which must be on