Think about all of the ways you are vulnerable to an attack in your car. Preparing for the worst scenarios will keep you and your family safe when there is a threat. Are you ever in these situations?
- Drivers and passengers are frequently getting in and out of vehicles, and vulnerability is highest at these times.
- Vehicles are used for commuting to work or for running errands, and this means that drivers are almost guaranteed to have a wallet, purse, or other valuables that have been purchased easily accessible in the vehicle.
- You own an expensive car or truck that others might want. Consider also the value of the vehicle itself, and that a highly motivated attacker may want to take it from you.
Use These 3 Parking Strategies to Increase Safety
No matter where you’re going to or coming from, you’ll need to park your car. Being alert as to how and where you park your car is the best way to stay prepared.
- When arriving at home, park as close to home as possible. If you’re pulling into your garage, maintain awareness of your garage door and anyone who may enter it as you enter. Garages are wonderful, but anyone wanting access can get you, your vehicle, and your home all in one entrance. Be aware of the opportunities that your garage presents.
- Avoid parking in locations far from your destination or in areas with poor lighting. Being in a hurry and taking the first spot you see can be a bad choice. It is always worth the extra time searching when you consider the potential threats.
- If you are driving family and friends to a destination, you will of course be carrying protection. As the driver, you can drop your loved ones off at the door and then proceed to find a place to park. This keeps them safe and allows you, the driver carrying concealed, to handle a threat should one present itself.
What You Can Do to Stay Protected While Driving
You are most safe from threats while in a locked car that is moving, but that doesn’t mean that you are out of danger entirely.
- Traffic during rush hour or holidays presents a few threats. There are many more drivers on the road, many of them feeling tired or stressed. This means that one, potential attackers have more vehicles from which to choose. It can also increase your risk of attack in a “road rage” situation.
- It always pays to have a full gas tank. Be sure to stay fueled up for a few reasons. First, you want to be able to drive away from any potential threats, as the best way to handle these situations is simply to avoid them if at all possible. Second, you don’t want an empty tank to determine where you fill up. A poorly lit and empty gas station can present many threats, so keep to the places you know and trust.
Drawing and Firing From the Driver’s Seat
Start your preparations by informing yourself of the local and state laws about firearms inside your vehicle. Lear about where and how exactly you can store your handguns while driving. Regulations differ from state to state, but store your handgun in the most accessible location while driving.
- Practice locating and drawing your weapon. Consider the location of your seatbelt, steering wheel, and middle consol. Practice your movements until they feel fluid and fast. Now this type of defense has some particular movements and types of fire that are very unique.
- You may need to fire through your car windows. confined space makes it incredibly loud. Vehicle windows will shatter if you need to fire through them, just be aware that windshields are built to survive contact much more than passenger windows.
- Attackers in rear seats are vulnerable to shots fired through seats. A seatbelt and a well constructed front seat means tons of safety in the event of a vehicle crash, but unfortunately also means that you don’t have much movement in the event you need self-defense.
We spend lots of time in our vehicles. Mostly we are just driving around town or to and from work. Don’t take the regularity of your drive for granted. Prepare for any situation or threat that may occur in or around your vehicle. You make sure that your car is safe in the event of a crash, but make sure you are protected from other threats as well.
