High-threat driving is the skill of operating a motor vehicle under extreme stress and danger. However, vehicle tactics come into play when your car is disabled or blocked, preventing you from driving away—the best possible course of action in most cases. This article focuses on those tactics, presenting them in an order designed to build effective habits that enhance survivability.
Combat Parking: More Than Just Backing In
Deliberate, consistent actions lead to better outcomes than a haphazard approach. Parking is no exception. When choosing where and how to park, consider that you may also be choosing a fighting position. Always back into parking spots.
A key benefit—often overlooked—is that when returning to your vehicle, you are naturally forced to walk past the driver’s door and turn around to enter. This provides an opportunity to scan your surroundings and check for threats.
Additionally, if your vehicle won’t start, facing outward allows you to maintain situational awareness and makes it easier for assistance—such as a tow truck or jump start—to reach you.
The No Man’s Land of an Open Car Door
If you want to see someone freeze under pressure, put them in the following scenario: They approach their vehicle, key in hand, and suddenly a potential threat moves directly toward them. The choices—getting in, standing by the door, moving away, driving off, or engaging—can cause decision paralysis.
Consider a common situation: You stop for gas, go inside for a quick purchase, and return to your car. As you open the door, someone approaches. If you rush into your car but fumble with the keys, the threat could be on you before you can drive away. If you remain outside and focus on them, you risk being drawn away from the vehicle while an accomplice slips in and steals it—a proven criminal tactic.
The best rule: If you are already inside the vehicle, use it to escape. If you are outside, do not attempt to enter unless you can do so calmly and without rushing. Dropping your keys in a panic only makes things worse.
Vehicle Exiting Sequence (VES): Getting Out Fast
A seatbelt saves lives in motion but can be a liability when the vehicle stops. Being restrained in a non-moving vehicle makes you a sitting target. If your car is disabled and movement isn’t immediately possible, getting out and onto your feet restores mobility.
For drivers, here’s an effective VES process:
- As the vehicle comes to a stop, use your left hand to open the door while placing your left foot in the door frame to keep it open.
- With your right hand, shift the vehicle into park.
- Bring your left hand between your chest and the seatbelt (above nipple level). Rotate the palm down and away, pulling the seatbelt over your gear to clear it.
- Place your left foot on the ground, pivot, and as your left elbow exits the vehicle, use it against the door frame to push yourself out efficiently.
With practice, this becomes second nature. I personally developed this habit over years of experience, often standing outside the vehicle before it fully stops—something that occasionally frustrates my wife. While most people will never need to exit a vehicle under fire, in a life-threatening situation, small advantages can be the difference between survival and failure.
Shooting from Inside the Vehicle
If a threat attacks before you can exit, be mentally prepared to fire through the windshield. Your best angles of fire are to the front and sides—rearward shots are impractical unless you are exceptionally flexible.
In such situations, the Center Axis Relock (CAR) system—developed by the late Paul Castle—has no rival. CAR effectively transforms your pistol into the “main gun of a tank,” with your body acting as the turret.
Distance Off Cover: Creating Space to Survive
Maintain distance from cover—such as vehicles—using your extended off-hand. Bullets tend to track along surfaces they strike, so hugging cover is dangerous. Keeping space reduces the risk of ricocheting rounds hitting you.
Vehicle Cover vs. Concealment
- Concealment: Anything that hides you from view but does not stop bullets.
- Cover: Anything that physically protects you from gunfire.
A vehicle offers varying levels of cover:
- The engine block and wheels/axles provide the best protection.
- The rest of the vehicle offers little real cover. It’s surprising how many people can squeeze behind a single tire when bullets start flying.
Next Point of Cover: Plan Before You Move
If you have strong cover, don’t move unless absolutely necessary or if you can reach a stronger position. Open spaces between cover points are the most dangerous areas. Before moving, identify where you’re going first.
Many force-on-force training exercises neglect realistic cover environments, often playing out in open spaces. To build real-world skills, train with vehicles and structures—even airsoft drills with a few friends and an old car can provide invaluable experience.
Final Thought
Mastering vehicle tactics requires learning, repetition, and practical application. Start with the basics, build strong habits, and refine your skills over time. In a high-threat situation, even the smallest advantage can determine survival.
