Seven tips to prevent, or at least survive, a carjacking attempt.
So you think that because you have a gun in your vehicle you’re immune from being carjacked? Well, I have news for you. Ignorance may be bliss, but it’s also dangerous. Whether protecting yourself in your home, on the street or in your vehicle, merely possessing a gun doesn’t protect you from anything. In fact, a gun without a plan and training could make an already bad situation even worse.
As Kenny Rogers crooned in “The Gambler,” “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” In other words, even if you have an ace up your sleeve (in this case, a concealed handgun within reach), knowing if, when and how to bring it into play could be the difference between winning and losing. These seven tips will help stack the deck in your favor.
1. Pay attention. Defensive driving requires you to pay attention to the road and anticipate that other drivers will make mistakes that could jeopardize your safety, possibly resulting in a collision. Driving defensively means not assuming an approaching vehicle will stop for a red light. It means planning ahead and always having an escape route in anticipation of a roadway hazard.
Most people have a propensity to let down their guard as soon as their vehicle comes to a stop. As a police officer, I see it all the time. At stop signs and red lights drivers immediately start checking email, texting, checking their maps—whether such activities are legal or not. This is when you are vulnerable to being carjacked.
Awareness and common sense are your first defenses. Your windows should be up, and
