This topic is one that I would like to discuss in more detail, to get your thoughts and input . I am in no way an expert nor have I had any formal training in this area. All I have are personal experiences, over 15 years of driving from point to point in some of the largest cities in our country. My job requires that I be on the move constantly. With a lot of time behind the wheel, one has a lot of time to think, and plan for different scenarios, when it comes to moving on our roads and highways. Listed below are some of the things that I practice, and some links to other articles with good information. Feel free to add to this discussion, all suggestions and thoughts are welcome.
You may say "I will never be escorting high value personnel in a column of armored vehicles, through a war torn city in a foreign land, why do I need this?" Perhaps, it may not be in an armored vehicle, or a foreign land, but for those of you who plan on traveling, or Bugging Out in an WROL situation you will be escorting high value personnel. The highest value of all, your families.
WHEN TO MOVE:
I have given this a lot of thought. How long after things break down do you wait to hit the road? Of course this will be different for everyone. Primary factor being your starting location, and the extent of the situation at hand that is making you ask yourself this question in the first place. Are you in the city, suburb, or rural location? Does the situation afford you time to wait or is getting out imperative? I cant answer that for you. More than likely if your in a large city you wont be moving anytime soon, because every one else will have the knee jerk reaction to get out as well, leaving your streets and highways a very large,dangerous parking lot.
I live in one of the outer most suburbs of my city. Population is still high but its mainly scattered with lots of farm land. I have decisions to make for me and mine when and if it comes to bugging out. My BOL is roughly 340 miles away, that's a six to seven hour drive in normal conditions. Given my location and the scope of the circumstance I would like to think I had options on when to head out. I'm far enough away from the city that I might be able to head out relatively quickly, hitting mainly back roads and avoiding most highways, but at some point between my starting location and my BOL ,highways will have to be traveled and or crossed.
SETTING UP SAFE HOUSES SO TO SPEAK:
You may or may not have a need to do this. Now is the time to start networking with others and forming some kind of plan that could be implemented if you do decide to travel. Like stated above I have a decent piece to travel before making it to my final location, having a safe place to stop even if its for just one night could be huge. You have to remember you are going to be driving under extremely high stress, add kids, wife and family pet on top of that, a chance to unwind and come down off the tension high of being on point could be very much needed. This time could also be used to gather information from the party in your safe zone,get as much info on road conditions and danger spots and any other valuable news for the next leg of your journey. This is also a chance to inspect your vehicle make any repairs that can be made, and treat any wounded if you have any. Its much easier to do these kind of things in relative safety than on the side of the road if you can.
I am fortunate enough to have made these kinds of plans with a member of this forum who happens to be between me and my BOL. Take the time now to set things up like , communication, and a meeting place, with your host.
LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT:
Alternate routes and using them is something that I do now, its just a habit that I have. Its actually saved me hours over the years knowing where to go to avoid typical traffic jams ranging from construction , accidents, weather you name it. I keep several maps with me in my work and personal vehicle. I have several routes plotted for my BOL and I have driven them all. I would like to think that I have given myself an advantage. It has given me a chance to get a feel for what I could possibly expect to encounter, for example Ive been able to plot bridges and other areas wheres road blocks could be set up if someone wanted to do so . I don't think its being paranoid, I think its being prepared. If you see something now that catches your eye and gives you an uneasy feeling chances are when things get bad someone will try to use that very thing to their advantage.
Where to drive on the road, left lane, center, right lane. There is no right answer here, and remember we are talking about driving in times of WROL, or at the very least at the onset of an event that would get mass amounts of people moving to roads and highways unexpectedly.
Assuming the roads are open and flowing I guess it doenst much matter, however how many times have you been cruising along at 70 miles an hour on a three lane highway and traffic comes to an abrupt stop due to an accident or whatever. Its happened several times to me. Just this past summer driving back from Wyoming with the family we were going through Nebraska and in an instant traffic stopped on a dime. We were in the center lane the accident we came upon was only two miles ahead of us. We were basically pinned in by big rigs and other smaller vehicles that were doing the normal lane change to try to get moving. Due to the accident being a fatality things werent going any where anytime soon. Had we been traveling in the right hand lane it would have been possible for us to exit before the stopped traffic, and had this been during an WROL situation I venture to guess there would have been more dead than just the victim of the initial car accident.
Another thing I do is, Im always sure to give my self enough room between my vehicle and the one in front of me, usually about half a car length. I do this at stop lights, accidents, slowed driving conditions in heavy traffic. If there ever is a situation that develops behind me I want to be able to go around what ever is in front of me. I have had this very scenario happen in my younger days. On a trip with a friend and my brother we were at a light on an over pass, the vehicle behind us was full, around six guys, for whatever reason glass bottles started pelting our car, a quick glance back and I saw doors being opened on the car and guys started pouring out with baseball bats in hand. That day getting the hell out of dodge was the only option, one that could not have been made if I had been so close to the car in front of me that I couldnt make a quick exit stage right and jump back on the free way. Lived to fight another day.
A lot comes down to your awareness level, stay focused, stay alert. Be prepared as well as you can ahead of time to deal with what you cant see tomorrow. Im sure you each have your own stories and suggestions and I look forward to hearing them.
Here are the links. Be safe , StraitJacket
http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/physical-security/psd-concepts-introduction-and-daily-routes/http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/physical-security/psd-concepts-how-to-detect-surveillance-and-counter/http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/physical-security/psd-concepts-attack-recognition-and-the-art-of-the-ambush/
