Security checkpoints have been established just outside the town, and the national guard is conducting thorough searches of homes within the quarantined zones. The principles of democracy have gradually eroded, giving way to martial law in the urban areas.
The optimal time to depart was a couple of days ago. It’s time to load up your car, make sure your tires are properly inflated, and fasten your seatbelt securely. Escaping won’t be a walk in the park, and you’ll need to employ some skillful driving techniques if you hope to reach the countryside and your designated safe haven.
As you navigate the streets, you might find yourself being pursued by military police just two blocks away. What’s your next move? It’s time for some tactical driving.
While car chases are a staple of action-adventure movies, it’s important not to assume that it’s all just cinematic Hollywood stunt work. Across the globe, individuals of considerable wealth and political influence acquire the skills you’ve witnessed on the silver screen and more.
The reason is straightforward: when someone is targeting the person in the back seat, the driver becomes not only a liability but a potential threat. The first shots are typically aimed at the driver, emphasizing the need to swiftly remove both themselves and the vehicle from harm’s way.
Depending on the specific circumstances and location, drivers are trained not only in evasive and tactical driving techniques but also in situational awareness and advanced firearms handling.
Mastering Tactical Driving: It’s All in the Mind
When it comes to mastering the art of tactical driving, experienced individuals are well aware that the lion’s share of training is not just about handling a vehicle but requires a keen mental approach.
Delving into this multifaceted domain, it’s evident that there’s a wealth of knowledge to absorb. The very foundation of tactical driving instruction begins with cultivating acute situational awareness, a skill that extends beyond the mere mechanics of driving.
It encompasses understanding how to navigate your vehicle while maintaining a mere six-inch buffer zone between your car and three others closely tailing you. Furthermore, communication takes center stage, whether it’s through the use of a radio or the interface of a laptop computer.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The essence of tactical driving goes beyond these fundamental elements. It involves a deep comprehension of the roles each vehicle plays within a convoy.
What’s the mission of the lead car?
What responsibilities fall upon the principal vehicle?
And, importantly, what tasks are assigned to the rear vehicle?
As we delve deeper into the world of tactical driving, it becomes abundantly clear that success hinges not only on physical dexterity but also on a meticulous mental grasp of the intricacies involved.
Tactical driving is as much a cerebral exercise as it is a hands-on skill, demanding constant vigilance and a proactive mindset to ensure the safety and success of the mission.
Strategic Readiness: The Crucial Element
In any survival scenario, be it on the battlefield or the urban streets, meticulous preparation stands as the cornerstone of success. When it comes to the realm of tactical driving, the importance of preparation cannot be overstated.
In your journey through tactical driving training, you’ll delve into a comprehensive array of scenarios, each meticulously designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for navigating the most challenging situations.
This encompasses not only what to do in the event of an attack but also the strategic placement of individuals within the vehicle. Furthermore, you’ll explore strategies for securing the principal figure in scenarios that necessitate traveling on foot along a potentially hostile road.
In addition to these practical aspects, the curriculum delves into real-world case studies of terrorist attacks. These case studies shed light on the staggering levels of planning and preparation that underlie some of these incidents. It’s a stark reminder of the complexity and sophistication that can be encountered in hostile situations.
At the heart of the course lies the critical question: What should you do when an attack is unfolding before your eyes? As one of my former instructors wisely emphasized, “Tactical driving is undeniably a core skill. However, it’s imperative to understand that a car, in the wrong hands, becomes a lethal weapon.” This concept underscores the necessity of adopting a unique mindset – one that may require a challenging mental shift for some individuals.
In essence, tactical driving transcends the boundaries of conventional driving education. It represents a fusion of preparedness, strategic thinking, and mental agility, where readiness and adaptability combine to transform you into a formidable force capable of navigating the most demanding situations with precision and confidence.
Abandoning Conventional Norms: Embrace Survival Tactics
In the realm of our everyday lives, we are ingrained with the principles of responsible and safe driving. From our very first driver’s education, we’re trained to prioritize avoiding accidents, adhering to traffic rules, displaying courtesy, and ensuring our personal safety.
However, when safety becomes a distant memory, our focus must undergo a dramatic transformation – it shifts towards sheer survival, with no room for compromise.
This shift is perhaps most starkly illustrated in the imperative to view a car not merely as a mode of transportation but as a lethal weapon. Conveying this concept is among the most challenging aspects of training, as it demands individuals to fundamentally alter their perception.
When you steer your vehicle toward another person, there’s no room for hesitation or half-measures – the intent must be unequivocal: to eliminate the threat. Wounding or incapacitating is not the goal; the objective is to ensure that, if you don’t decisively eliminate the threat, it will rise again to pose a grave danger to you.
Within the training curriculum, drivers are instructed in the art of leveraging their vehicle as a formidable battering ram. They acquire the skills to maneuver effectively even on deflated tires and to execute the renowned PIT (Precision Intervention Technique) maneuver, a tactical driving technique.
To safeguard themselves during these intense training sessions, participants don full protective gear, including mouth guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. The training environment is fully immersive and full-contact, simulating real-world scenarios where adversaries will attempt to pit and ram your vehicle. It’s a delicate dance of offensive and defensive maneuvers, with techniques such as counter-pitting and counter-evasion being part of the arsenal.
Yet, the scope of training extends beyond the confines of vehicular combat because threats persist in various forms. In this ever-evolving landscape, the imperative to adapt and overcome is not limited to the domain of cars; it extends to a comprehensive understanding of modern threats and the tactics required to neutralize them.
The Tactical Driving Artistry: Demystifying the PIT Maneuver
In the realm of tactical driving, the Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver stands as an open secret, known to many as a highly effective yet closely guarded technique. Its primary objective is to disrupt the forward motion of an adversary’s vehicle, rendering it immobilized on the roadway, often facing oncoming traffic.
The execution of the PIT maneuver involves a calculated approach. You initiate the maneuver by closing in on the target vehicle from behind. With precision, the front corner of your vehicle is strategically employed to apply pressure to the opposing vehicle, targeting the rear wheel or the area behind it.
This calculated pressure induces a controlled skid in the opposing car. As the adversary’s vehicle begins to skid, you maintain your acceleration and pressure, causing it to pivot across the front of your bumper. The result is that the target vehicle ends up on the opposite side of your car, now facing in the opposite direction.
It’s crucial to emphasize that both ramming another vehicle and attempting the PIT maneuver should never be taken lightly. Without justifiable cause, these actions can lead to severe legal consequences, potentially being classified as attempted vehicular manslaughter or worse.
If you aspire to master such high-stakes driving techniques, it’s imperative to enroll in a reputable driving academy that specializes in tactical driving instruction. These academies provide a structured and safe environment for individuals to acquire the skills and knowledge required to employ such maneuvers judiciously and responsibly, equipping them for the unique challenges of tactical driving scenarios.
The “J-Turn” Maneuver
Another example of tactical driving is the “J-Turn” maneuver. The J-Turn is a precision driving technique that involves a rapid change in direction, allowing the driver to quickly reverse their vehicle’s course and accelerate in the opposite direction without coming to a complete stop.
This maneuver is often used in situations where a quick escape or evasion is necessary, such as in law enforcement or security operations.
The J-Turn typically involves the following steps:
Acceleration: The driver accelerates in the forward direction to gain speed.
Braking: The driver abruptly applies the brakes to shift the weight of the vehicle forward.
Steering: While maintaining braking pressure, the driver sharply turns the steering wheel in the opposite direction of travel, causing the vehicle’s rear end to swing around.
Release Brakes: Once the vehicle has completed a 180-degree turn and is facing the opposite direction, the driver releases the brakes and accelerates to continue in the new direction.
The J-Turn requires precise timing, control, and coordination to execute safely and effectively. It’s a valuable skill for evading pursuers or navigating through tight spaces in high-pressure situations, making it an important component of tactical driving training for professionals who may encounter hostile or dangerous environments.
Driving on flats
Navigating the roads with one or more flat tires is undeniably one of the most daunting situations a driver can encounter. Your car’s tires serve as the sole point of contact with the road surface, providing the essential traction required for safe and effective maneuvering.
Interestingly, the dynamics of driving with flat tires can be somewhat counterintuitive. When faced with a flat front tire, the steering becomes notably heavy and unresponsive, causing the vehicle to veer decidedly toward the side with the deflated tire. While this experience is far from enjoyable, it does possess an element of predictability.
Conversely, dealing with a flat rear tire presents a markedly different challenge. In this scenario, the vehicle exhibits a proclivity to sway unpredictably – veering one way when you apply the accelerator and swinging in the opposite direction when you release the pedal.
Steering inputs also induce unanticipated swings in the car’s trajectory. The resulting motions are characterized by their lack of predictability and heightened difficulty in control when compared to the challenges posed by a front flat tire.
Navigating the treacherous terrain of flat tires demands not only a practical understanding but also a keen sense of adaptability and responsiveness. It’s a testament to the intricate dance between driver and vehicle, where the mastery of these challenges lies in an ability to maintain composure and control even when confronted with the unexpected.
Beyond the Wheel: A Comprehensive Skillset
Beyond the realm of tactical driving maneuvers, a holistic training program should encompass a broader skill set that equips individuals for the challenges of high-stakes situations. This includes not only the mastery of vehicles but also knowledge of firearms usage and critical insights into self-preservation when faced with hostile fire.
To demonstrate the art of survival behind the wheel, training often involves using cars as targets, subjecting them to thousands of rounds of ammunition to illustrate where one should seek refuge. A common misconception is that individuals tend to gravitate towards the rear wheel of a car in the face of danger, which, incidentally, is perilously close to the gas tank or the driver’s door.
In contrast, it’s vital to understand that crouching by the front wheel offers a more strategic position. This placement forces bullets to traverse the vehicle’s engine before reaching the individual, significantly enhancing protection. Car doors provide minimal shielding, and the trunk area offers even less, compounded by the presence of flammable gasoline in that region.
What might come as a surprise is that motorcycle training is just as rigorous and demanding as that for cars. Furthermore, in many parts of the world, scooters have emerged as the primary mode of transportation, highlighting the significance of mastering these smaller vehicles in tactical driving training.
Moreover, the art of blending in is a crucial facet of this training. Those who excel in these skills are often indistinguishable from ordinary drivers on the road. They seamlessly integrate into their surroundings, adopting a wholly distinct mindset.
For individuals newly introduced to this world, adapting to this mental attitude can be a formidable challenge, often requiring a period of adjustment and transformation in how they perceive the world around them.
It’s an entire world within itself, redefining the way individuals interact with and view their environment, ultimately preparing them for the unforeseen challenges that may arise.
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