Bob S. shares a personal story about awareness. Personally, by about Awareness Point #3, I would have taken action to put distance between myself and the other vehicle… but that’s just me.
Awareness is important because the best way to survive a bad situation is never to get into it in the first place. Is that guy driving behind you (while perfectly mimicking every speed change and lane change) following you or is he just going to the same place and keeping with the flow of traffic? Well, take a random turn and find out. Is that guy eying you in the Quickie Mart sizing you up or just seeing if you’re Cousin So-and-So? Slip down an aisle and get closer to the clerk… and then wait him out.
*Note: this is a tad freaky. I chose the title for this post to point out the fact that is you get caught unaware, you get caught, period. Then I remembered that the title sounded… familiar. So I Googled it. First result: Hackworth article. Second result: recent post by Tam. It’s also the name of the old FBI training video (Part 1, Part 2) on awareness during an arrest. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go file the serial numbers off some more material…
Bob S.
10 Aug 10 at 10:46 AM
Dixie,
I realized that I didn’t mention the reason why I was looking for the gas station — and the lesson I also learned — I was running on fumes.
I normally try to fill up with 1/3 to 1/2 a tank left. This time I was ‘too busy’ to take care of it the day before.
The other aspect is as you mentioned – it could have been he was just heading to the same location. That store has some of the cheapest gas around, convenient access for north bound traffic, etc.
Great points about changing things up and keeping an eye on the person.
Dixie
10 Aug 10 at 11:46 AM
I normally try to fill up with 1/3 to 1/2 a tank left. This time I was ‘too busy’ to take care of it the day before.
I do, too. Plus, I live in Hurricane Alley– evacuations are common here. (chuckle)
Great points about changing things up and keeping an eye on the person.
Oh, that’s just scratching the surface– most of my family has worked as prison guards / police officers / firemen, so I have all sorts of defensive training and “stay alert” stories.