Don’t be a victim on the road

Quick question: What would you do if some attacked you in your car? Would you just cower and try to speed away, or will you bring out your inner Jackie Chan and karate chop your attackers?

About 15 years ago, we were victims of a carnapping incident. My husband was trying to sell our Honda CRV, and was about to go for the usual test drive with a potential buyer.

They met at the lobby of our building in full view of the guards and the CCTV. They exchange pleasantries and identification, where my husband concluded that the guy must be decent enough since he was from Magallanes Village.

They proceeded with the usual test drive around Pioneer St., but when they turned right to what is now Brixton St., the guy pulled out a gun and told my husband to go down.

More often than not, you will freeze.

I attended a seminar a couple of days ago given by safety experts Snooky Cruz and Tim Waid, former military men turned tactical safety consultants.

They talked about the different techniques one can do to be prepared for any assault or incident. One portion discussed how you could be safe in your car.

Here are some of my key learnings:

1. When stopping at a checkpoint or stoplight in a hostile area or high crime neighborhood, always have your car in drive or engaged in first gear.

This will allow you to quickly get away or do pervasive maneuvers without having to scramble into gear.

2. Don’t tailgate. In the event of a drive-by or someone attacking your car, having enough space between you and the car in front will give an exit strategy.

One rule of thumb is to maintain sight of the rear wheel tire of the vehicle in front of you.

3. Be Alert. Don’t use headphones, watch TV, or use your cellphone.

Anything that distracts you from driving will always keep your senses numb for possible threats on the road. Always scan the area so nobody can jump on you.

4. Always keep your door locked, and your windows up. Locked doors automatically make your car a sanctuary.

If you would need to open your window, just open enough to hear so you won’t give the attackers a chance to grab you or throw something inside.

5. Have your car tinted. Tinting gives you two advantages: first, they don’t know the gender of the person driving, or if the driver is alone.

It also prevents the glass from shattering when smashed, thus helping prevent injuries. It also buys you some time to act.

6. If you need to go on the offensive and ram an obstacle, remember to use the front corners of your cars, which is the headlight part.

Just be careful because a frontal hit on your vehicle can damage or deploy the airbag and disable your car, leaving you a sitting duck.

7. If someone tries to drive you off the road intentionally, apply the Pursuit Intervention Technique or PIT maneuver. This action was initially designed for cops.

PIT begins when the victim vehicle pulls alongside the threat vehicle so that the front portion of the victim’s front wheels are aligned with the back portion of back wheels of the threat vehicle.

The victim gently makes contact with the threat’s side, then steers sharply into the threat vehicle.

As soon as the threat vehicle’s rear tires lose track and start to skid, the victim must continue to push in the same direction.

This, if done correctly, will the have the following effects: the threat vehicle will lose control of the car, turn him the opposite direction, and spin out.

PIT may be done from either side, but consideration must be given to where both cars will end up.

I’m just glad my husband came out alive, a bit scarred but well enough to turn the situations for the better.

After two years, our CRV was recovered with a lot of modifications, and sold eight times. But that is another story.

You really don’t know what can happen, and the best way is to prepare. Even if you are a martial arts expert or trained by Yoda, nothing beats prevention than cure.

If you are interested to learn more about tactical driving, PIT maneuver, and how to escape from your trunk, get in touch with TRS DDA at (0929) 535-6958/www.driverdevelopment.com/ariellereyes@tuasonracing.com.