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Being Followed? What to Do When It Is Time to Shake a Tail

In the wrong hands a car is a weapon. We were taught that early on. And people who drive like you describe are dangerous to others, maybe intentionally, and IMO there are more and more of them as the cultural climate has declined.
A CAR is a weapon in the wrong hands but a firearm is not ?

A car is also a tool that can be used to avoid a weapon.

I've taught in high-performance driving schools at race tracks with names you may recognise, so this may not work for everybody....but we've practiced this alot when the students weren't around and the parking lots have some crazy looking tire marks. We did get in trouble with the security patrol right after they paved the paddock at Sears Point, but we told them we were preparing for a defensive driving course and I never heard about it later. We did flatspot some tires in the school cars, but we routinely went through alot of tires anyway.

So, if I'm in a car on the street and another car is tailing me and I feel they're a threat, i'll just see how hard they'll try to keep up with me. If they're TRYING to keep up with me it's game on.

If they CAN keep close, I want to see what they're driving. Within a few seconds (unless we're really going fast) i can be turned around (while trying to keep tire smoke to a minimum) in the opposite lane, going the opposite direction, with my headlights shining in their eyes. Their first instinct is to stay in their lane to avoid hitting me and unless they can pull a handbrake turn I'll be long gone in the opposite direction before they get turned around..

To be honest, I won't say I've had to do this and I won't say I haven't. And I'm not sure if I'd do it if i was in the pickup truck. But brake-checking is always fun. At this point in my life, I'm hoping it's not going to be an issue.

I just figure I'm less likely to go to jail out-running someone than I am if I shoot someone.
 
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I second his statement that awareness is a must. As part of a counter-surveillance exercise many years ago, and knowing "they" were out there somewhere, the slightest distraction can divert your attention and allow the tailer to slip in and get close. At night while driving is especially a problem trying to sort out threats from all the headlights behind you. On top of this, conversations with a rider can let your guard down. Even in small hinterland towns there are suspicious characters, so the author has some good advice no matter where you live.
On the other hand, being a PI, I worked with a friend whose car was set up for surveillance; individual lights, front and rear, could be switched off, same with turn signals, etc. At night , I imagine spitting a tail would be difficult.
 
On the other hand, being a PI, I worked with a friend whose car was set up for surveillance; individual lights, front and rear, could be switched off, same with turn signals, etc. At night , I imagine spitting a tail would be difficult.
My old roommate put a switch on his brake lights so he could blackout at night. His intent was to avoid cops.

The wire on/to the switch opened and he got pulled over for no brake lights.

I'm not saying he was an idiot, but he was an idiot.
 
My old roommate put a switch on his brake lights so he could blackout at night. His intent was to avoid cops.

The wire on/to the switch opened and he got pulled over for no brake lights.

I'm not saying he was an idiot, but he was an idiot.
We had those on B&Ws in the 70s.
 
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