Province

Back into car seaat to protect your assets

Be observant. Your day should be planned so you have time to pay attention to your surroundings. Be aware of your surroundings as you enter your parked vehicle.

Get into the car rear end first. I often see folks getting into a car. feet first, then swinging their rear end into the seat. This leaves your back vulnerable to attack.

If you leave your back exposed, even for a second, and someone rushes you, he can push you into the car and follow you in. That is called car jacking.

Instead of feet first, turn your body and sit in the seat, then swing your legs into position. Glance one more time into the back seat as you close the door. Place your keys in the ignition, lock the door(s) and belt up. Do not belt up, then lock the doors. Once you belt up, you're trapped if someone attacks you.

I saw that demonstrated on a poor soul who was apparently dawdling too much at an intersection. The driver behind him got out of his vehicle, ran up to the dawdling car, opened the door and began hitting the driver who was wearing his seat.belt. Several other drivers assisted the victim as the assailant fled.

HELPLESS IN SEAT BELT

The point here is not to tell you to drive without your seat belt on but to indicate how helpless you are in that position.

As you leave your neighborhood, tune to a station that tells you about adverse road conditions so you can alter your route if needed.

Be aware of the drivers around you. Utilize your rear view and side mirrors to give yourself a 360degree view.

At your destination, use your peripheral vision. Is there anyone sitting in a vehicle near where you are parking? If so, choose another spot: An assailant checks on . possible victims by sitting in a vehicle or other vantage point, then enters a vehicle, locks the doors and waits.

Once parked, look around, unbelt yourself, remove your keys, gather, your belongings, glance around and exit your vehicle, head first.

When you exit head first, you are extending the air of an alert driver, rear end first you are vulnerable. Exiting head first you are physically positioned to take ;assertive action against an assailant.

Remember, it only takes a blink of an eye for someone to come from seemingly nowhere and attack you from behind.

Practise entering and exiting in the privacy of your property or r apartment complex and you'll soon find it becomes second nature.