What's New:

NEW: Distracted Driving a Deadly Epidemic
Tony Scotti
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. A study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), stated that 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called distracted driving a “deadly epidemic."

NEW: Driving in Bad Weather
Tony Scotti
Most of the driving public can opt out of driving in bad weather – but CEO’s didn’t get to be CEO’s because they stayed home when it snowed. So there is a part of the driving population that has no choice but to drive in weather that sane people would avoid. Part of that population is Security/Executive Drivers. When the weather goes bad consideration has to be given to what you drive and how you drive it

NEW: The Mini-Manual of The Urban Guerrilla
Tony Scotti
Since the mid-sixties Carlos Marighella’s book “The Mini-Manual of The Urban Guerilla” has been must reading for terrorist groups throughout the world. The manual is the platform for Al Qaeda’s and Bin Laden’s training manuals. The good news is that we have their pre attack planning process in detail and in writing – the bad news is that we ignore it.

NEW: Thoughts on Executive Vehicles
Tony Scotti
For years most of the vehicles considered for executive transportation have been the Town Car - Cadillac DTS – BMW and Mercedes. There are two other vehicles I would include in the executive vehicle conversation; they are the Audi A8 4.2 Quattro and Lexus 460L AWD/Lexus LS 600h.

Basic Tire Information
Tony Scotti
Remember that the only connection between you and mother earth is your tires. Treat them well. The important issues are type of tires and the air in the tire. Keep in mind that the tire doesn’t support the vehicle load. The pressurized air inside the tire supports the load. The tire is just the container this might sound obvious, but it is critical to understand.

Before It Makes the Headlines
Joe Autera
Since the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, law enforcement and security professionals have been inundated with bulletins, directives and warnings urging increased vigilance and heightened awareness. Unfortunately, there has been little put forth regarding exactly what it is that those on the front lines of the war on terrorism should be vigilant for and aware of. In fact, there is even quite a bit of confusion regarding the very terms that we use to define our efforts to deter, detect and defeat future attacks.

Driving in Bad Weather
Tony Scotti
Most of the driving public can opt out of driving in bad weather – but CEO’s didn’t get to be CEO’s because they stayed home when it snowed. So there is a part of the driving population that has no choice but to drive in weather that sane people would avoid. Part of that population is Security/Executive Drivers. When the environment changes consideration has to be given to what you drive and how you drive it.

Executive Protection Utilizing Explosive Detector Dogs
Gerry Adams
If it is determined that your principal is at risk by explosives, we must then conduct an assessment in order to determine the order of magnitude. This assessment allows reasoned decisions when considering whether to add security personnel, harden a perimeter, select training criteria, or when best to deploy an Explosive Detector Dog (EDD). An EDD can be like any other tool that is kept available during a protective assignment. Your handler may also be available to conduct other tasking while working the detail. The EDD is then on standby, in the general vicinity, and ready for deployment whenever asked. Suspicious areas, packages, briefcases, vehicles, vessels, and aircraft are easily screened by simply bringing out the appropriate tool.

Info from Iraq
Ben Thomas
This is a great outline put together by Ben Thomas, diabloboy99@hotmail.com. It's outstanding because someone who is on the ground doing the run and gun is willing to share his experience and make recommendations. Ben confided to me that he wrote this late at night after a particularly bad day, so it has not been proof read or massaged, it's from the heart of a tired warrior, who wants to help others for no other reason than to help others. That has been my Philosophy for 33 years - I have been criticized for it - screwed because of it - and have lost enough money to make me choke because of it. So don't send his info out to others without giving Ben credit for it. - For no other reason than it's the right thing to do. By the way God Bless You Ben.

Passing
Tony Scotti
Passing is one of those things we do often but don’t give much thought. Once the decision has been made to pass in an urban environment realize and remember that you and your car are going to be spending a good deal of time in the wrong lane. To give you an idea of how much time and distance, if you are traveling at 50 mph and passing someone going 40 mph, you will need about 10 seconds and 736 feet to safely complete the pass. Here are some basic points you can use to help in the decision making process.

Performance vs Security Driving
Tony Scotti
Most Security Driver training programs have there roots firmly implanted in racing and performance driving. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but there is a difference between Racing/Performance Driving and Security Driving, and therefore a difference between training for racing and training for security driving.

Presidential Vehicles
Tony Scotti
There seems to be an inordinate amount of interest in the new Presidential Vehicle. News organizations have been showing “Spy Photo’s” of the vehicle. Come on – do you really think that if the Secret Service did not want you take pictures of the vehicle that you would be able to take pictures of the vehicle

Security Driver Triangle
Tony Scotti
Getting from point A to point B safely and securely requires the inter action between the driver – the vehicle and the environment they drive through. THE DRIVER, THE MACHINE, and THE ENVIRONMENT is called the Security Drivers Triangle. If there is an accident or a successful ambush it is caused by a failure of the triangle, the driver, the vehicle, or the environment failed.

TRAVEL ASSESSMENT on TIJUANA, MEXICO

The purpose of the report is to generate a security risk assessment for business travel in Tijuana and to propose practices and procedures to mitigate these risks.

Tale of Two Ambushes
Tony Scotti and Joe Autera
A while back Joe Autera, from Vehicle Dynamics, and Tony Scotti authored an article about two vehicle ambushes, each with a different outcome. Outlined in this article is a brief discussion on the lessons learned from these attacks.

The Making of a Web Site
Larry Snow
The old adage “if you build it, they will come” at one time applied to web sites right up until the internet bubble shattered into a million soapy shards. Now-a-days if the web site is used as a marketing tool (electronic brochure) and the objective of your web site is to produce sales, the site has to be different and stand out from other web sites – something that no else has thought of and has brought to the web. That’s a very tough thing to do and will usually take a lot of hard work and maybe a venture capitalist or two to help with development costs of your latest and greatest widget. In today’s economy, the homeless are richer than most banks so to find a venture capitalist that will sink money into the web you better have more than just a what-if, if they build it, they will come (ITBI-TWC) rhetoric.

Tips on Filling Up Your Car
Tony Scotti
Tony Eager is a good friend and colleague – Tony has a friend in the petroleum business who sent him these guide lines for saving on fuel. At first I thought it was one of those recommendations that kind of semi work. But I followed the guide lines and was surprised at the difference it makes – give them a shot.

Vehicle Ambush - Almost
Tony Scotti
Recently one of our former students got involved in a problem that is worth talking about.

Vehicle Dynamics and Training
Joe Autera
Vehicle Dynamics, two words you tend to see often in RFP’s, brochures, and on web sites dealing with driver training. Unfortunately most people don’t quite understand what the words mean and how it affects driving and driver training.

Case Scenarios
Tony Scotti
Three Recent Case Scenarios taken from the headlines with Tony Scotti's Analysis.

DRIVING AT THE LIMIT
Tony Scotti
When the driver moves the steering wheel while the car is in motion, a lateral or sideways force is created pushing on the center of gravity of the vehicle. force pushing on the vehicle is called G’s. If the driver applies more G’s than the vehicle was designed to take, life will quickly get very exciting...

Driving Fast
Tony Scotti
There is no doubt there are scenarios where one has to drive fast. The difficulty driving fast depends on three issues, the skill of the driver, the vehicle they are driving and the environment they are driving through.

EXPLOSIVE FORCES OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
Jeff Slotnick
In today’s world we are constantly bombarded with news of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s). Such devices are regularly used against U.S. Forces and security personnel in hostile environments like Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia. Bombings are clearly the method of choice by most terrorists. Before anyone can start to study these events and digest the design, construct, and methods chosen by terrorists, it is most important to understand the basics of explosives, explosive forces, and how they work.

Executive Protection
Frank Gallagher
Executive Protection - Rising Like the Phoenix, or Sinking like the Titanic?

Foot Surveillance
Tony Scotti
Foot surveillance may be undertaken by one or more individuals.Two-person foot surveillance is more effective in that the second surveillant provides greater flexibility. Normally, one surveillant remains close to the target while the other stays at a greater distance. The second surveillant...

Hezbollah's Perfect Ambush
Steve Powers
In the midst of the recent suicide attack on the USS Cole and the current Al-Aqsa Intifida (Palestinian Uprising) in Israel, an incident occurred on the Israeli/Lebanese Border that has drawn for the most part little attention beyond being just another kidnapping...

Protecting Your Traveling Executives
NACIC
Protecting Your Traveling Executives. Some rather simple perspectives from the June Newsletter of the NACIC (National Counter-Intelligence Center).

Protective Security Operations Meeting New Challenges Requires Dynamic Strategies
Joe Autera
In today’s world, the security professional is faced with the daunting task of designing, developing and implementing measures to counter an increasingly broad, though still somewhat vague, spectrum of threats. Despite all the rhetoric to the contrary, those of us in the private sector find ourselves in a familiar place; having to fend for ourselves.

Route Planning and Analysis
Steve Powers
A protective movement is the process of getting your principal from Point A to Point B in a timely and safe manner. To do so in a vehicular motorcade it is essential that a vehicle ambush counter measures program be developed specifically addressing all aspects of the vehicular movement.

Security Drivers - Driving Abilities and Age
Tony Scotti
Most corporate drivers are in their second career, which means they are up there in years. Therefore it's not surprising that a common question asked is “What happens to driving skills as age increases?" Speaking as a person that falls into that category (as age increases) I decided to look into what happens to our driving abilities.

Security While Driving: The Do's and Dont's
Tony Scotti
Hints and Checklists for Security while Driving

Spate of Kidnappings demonstrates Risks of Foreign Travel
Bill Kavanaugh
Julie Bradley's brother had been in Ecuador just two days when the nightmare began last October. Kidnapped by about 25 armed men in fatigues, David Bradley and nine other oil pipeline employees were shoved into the company's helicopter and whisked away into the steamy night.

Stationary Surveillance
Tony Scotti
Stationary surveillance is probably used most commonly by terrorist organizations.Being alert during this period of time is important for the driver and executive/principal.

Surveillance Detection Program
Tony Scotti
SURVEILLANCE DETECTION

The Challenges and Successes of Conducting Reliable Threat Assessment Along the U.S. Mexico Border
Chris Parkerson
Business over the last few years has been booming on the southern border of the United States. San Diego/ Tijuana, of course, is the region we immediately think of. Since most of my recent threat assessment work has been in this region, the San Diego/Tijuana area will also be the primary focus of this report.

Vision and Driving
Tony Scotti
How many times have you been driving down the road and another driver moving in the same direction drives into your lane? The person obviously did not see you in their mirrors, or simply did not look before turning the steering wheel. Many times we blame the latter for the problem but in reality they did look, they just did not see you. Their mirrors where not adjusted properly.

What are the Risks?
Tony Scotti
What are the Risks

ARMORED VEHICLES
Tony Scotti
The decision to purchase an armored vehicle is a difficult one at best, and when tasked with that responsibility nobody sets out to make a bad decision. It’s usually the lack of good information, or worse yet bad information that creates the problem in the decision making process.

Auto Theft Prevention
Tony Scotti
Fifty tips to prevent your car from being stolen.

Backing Up
Tony Scotti
Backing up fast is hard and if not done correctly, dangerous. But with that said it is by far one of the most valuable driving skills to have in a high risk environment. Unfortunately backing at speed is not a skill taught or practiced at most driver training programs. Read more...

Electronic Stability Control
Tony Scotti
It was only a matter of time before the cars we drive had computers that help us stay out of trouble, and I must admit for most drivers these computers could not come quick enough.

Executive Vehicles
Tony Scotti
Links and Reviews of the top Executive Vehicles.

GPS-Based Vehicle Tracking
Jeffrey Pusan
As an installer of GPS-based vehicle tracking systems I am often asked, "What is the difference between your system and the OnStar type of systems that are sold as options on new vehicles?"

Over Under Steer
Tony Scotti
The phrase Under and Over Steer are used often in training to explain vehicle characteristics. Understeer and oversteer is a condition that describes what happens to a vehicle when you move the controls, specifically the steering wheel.

Security While Driving
Tony Scotti
Security While Driving: The Second Layer of Defense

The Assassination of Haji Abdul Qadir
Nate Foster
Afghanistan Vice President, Haji Abdul Qadir, was murdered as he left his office in downtown Kabul. As one of the few ethnic Pashtun members of a Tajik dominated government, there are several possible suspects and motives for Mr. Qadir’s assassination.

The Safety of Executive Vehicles
Tony Scotti
Over my many years of conducting training programs the definition of Executive Vehicles has changed dramatically. But the goal of executive vehicles, getting the executive from point A to point B safely and securely, and in a degree of comfort and utility has not changed.

Traction Control
Ray Johansen
What is traction, and what does traction control do on my car while I drive? Traction is the grip that your car’s tires have on the road, which is needed to accelerate, turn and brake. If your car, or more specifically, your tires have little or no grip; your car will not accelerate, turn or brake and will skid. Traction control devices in the car will help prevent this loss of grip so your tires will have traction to accelerate, turn and brake.

Vehicle Assassination Attack Tactics
Tony Scotti
In order to discuss offensive driving techniques associated with protection of public figures, it is first necessary to become acquainted with the modus operandi of the attackers. A cross-section of vehicle assassination attacks, ranging from the gangland killings to South American terrorist group assassinations, was studied to determine the pattern of the typical attack and the specific vehicle tactics employed...

Vehicle Dynamics - Braking
Tony Scotti
Most drivers realize that the higher the car's speed, the more distance required to stop. What is surprising to many drivers is how much additional distance it takes to stop a vehicle with just a small increase in speed. The fact is that if you double your speed you increase your stopping distance by a factor of four.

Vehicle Dynamics Basics
Tony Scotti
Vehicle dynamics, two words you tend to hear often, unfortunately most people don’t quite understand what the words mean and how it affects their day to day driving. As an example – I recently reviewed a solicitation for driver training from a military entity. They asked the bidders to include “vehicle dynamics exercises”. Well driving to the shopping mall, parking your car, parallel parking are all exercises in vehicle dynamics.

Vehicle Protection Planner
Tony Scotti
If you are considering or shopping for vehicle protection this questionnaire may help define your needs and point you in the right direction.

A Wake up Call for US Based Businesses
David L. Johnson
September 11, 2001, a date in the terrorism calendar that we will remember for a long time. In response to those terrible attacks on our nation, our president has declared war on terrorism. We appear steadfast in our political resolve as our people rally around the need to remove this scourge from the earth. One doesn't need a crystal ball to know we will strike back. As we begin this 'War on Terrorism' we need to take a moment and step back, analyze how this war may affect us all.

Auto Theft
Tony Scotti
Your vehicle is one of the largest investments you make. New vehicles are not the only targets for car thieves. Older model vehicles are also very desirable. Thieves look for cars that can be resold quickly or stripped for parts. In most cases, a vehicle's parts are worth two to three times the value of the vehicle.

Clearing Checkpoints
Charlie Sellens
Checkpoints in Iraq are dangerous places. For civilian PSD teams the dangers are twofold. First, the constant threat of attack by insurgents is amplified by being in close proximity to an inviting military target. Second, a PSD motorcade, especially one that utilizes a low-profile configuration, runs the risk of being mistaken for insurgents and receiving fire from the military manning the checkpoint.

Early Warning System of Counter - Surveillance
Steve Powers
NEW: Route Planning Analysis - Counter Surveillance, the Early Warning System.

ROADSIDE BOMBS
Shawn Hughes
The concern for being ambushed by a roadside bomb is at an all-time high. Which is interesting, because the use of an Improvised Explosive Device to mobility kills or murder the occupants of a passing vehicle is an old and common tactic.

ROADSIDE BOMBS AND ARMORED VEHICLES
Thomas Herlihy
Kevlar, Spectrashield, S2 glass, Ceramics, other polyethylene's, etc. ARE TERRIBLE FOR STOPPING EXPLOSIONS!!!! They will get you killed. The only system that works well is one constructed of certain steels with certain methodologies.

Technology and The Art of Executive Protection-Plus
Bill Besse
The goal of personal protection is to provide services that shelter those being protected (principal) from hazards, whether caused by personal design, accident, or negligence as well as insuring privacy. However, absolute protection is never possible. Thus, the objective of personal protection must be to provide strategies that minimize the possibility of encountering these hazards.