Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Difficult, but not impossible. In addition to the ramming techniques
described below, several methods taught in antiterror driving schools
teach student drivers how to defeat this trap. Again, the countermeasures
must be learned from professionals in a well-respected school. The tech-
niques also must be practiced on a fairly regular basis.
Another version of the same attack may be carried out by four block-
ing vehicles on wide, multilane roads with no hard barrier separating the
two directions of travel (see Exhibit 8.4). As you can imagine, this attack
is even more difficult to execute well. If you have ever seen some of Fox
Television's
Scariest Police Chases,
you will know that even trained profes-
sional police officers sometimes have a hard time coordinating a stop in
this manner.
All of these techniques require some coordination and prior practice
on the part of the bad guys. And, as the Al Qaeda training tape obtained by
CNN show, the bad guys
do practice. If you haven't
accepted that reality by
now, we recommend that
you watch the tape, which
shows armed Al Qaeda
members practicing the
exact scenario we have
just described. Even so, if
you are alert you can see
this coming and drive out
of it. As we have said, even if you do get boxed in, if you are driving a car
with some mass and horsepower, you can still defeat this maneuver by
using techniques that are taught in professional driving schools. Realize
that you will probably be shot at during your escape. We would rather risk
being shot while trying to escape than to be taken by captors.
Exhibit 8.4
Four-Car Blocking
Avoid Heavily Congested Roads
The eighth rule is, whenever possible, to try to avoid roads where it is
likely that you will be stuck in traffic. This is easier said than done, as traf-
fic is a reality all over the world. If the road conditions in your country of
residence are such that you will encounter heavy traffic in the same place
and time on a daily basis, you must pay particular attention to vary your
routes of travel. Stop-and-go traffic makes it very easy for you to be
