Avoiding Choke Points While Driving AbroadChoke points are places along your driving route where you are most vulnerable to an attack from criminals or terrorists. The main points for most people include there home and place of work. Why? Because criminals know that you MUST come and go to these points. You will return home and, for most, you have to go to work. Furthermore, these points are where many people are less mentally aware. For example, when you are pulling into your driveway after a long, hard day of work your mind is wondering. What will I cook for dinner? I can’t wait to jump in the shower and relax. This is the perfect moment for a criminal to attack you. Other points are small, short, two-lane bridges. Once your vehicle drives onto the bridge two separate vehicles can block the lanes both behind and in front of you. Now you’re boxed in and can be robbed or assaulted. Of course, this technique takes more coordination; however, remember most criminals abroad tend to work in groups.
How can you avoid these situations? As for the first, you should vary your times, routes, and patterns. Don’t leave and arrive to work and home at the same times everyday. Change things up. Even small changes can throw off a potential criminal or terrorist. Simply by varying your times by 15 minutes can ruin their plans.
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Lastly, dead end streets are good choke points. Once you make a wrong turn onto a dead end street because you are new to the area and don’t know your way around, criminals have you exactly where they want you. A single vehicle can easily box you end and take advantage of the situation.
