Ever have a situation awareness fail?

[Wheelygunner]

..........

 

[Ziggy2525]

It can be frustrating when you're thinking back on an event, questing yourself "should I have done this" and "should I done that."

Once he got out of his car, you must of handled things right. He angrily confronted you. You deescalated the situation. He got back in his car and you both drove away with no one getting hurt. Seems like a good outcome for everyone.

 

[InsideWaist]

Have you had any situation awareness fails recently?

Both eyes on the road, not on the Egg McMuffin. [emoji6]

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

"Wise Men make mistakes. They just don't make the same mistake twice."


"Pocket carry is OK if you're standing and walking but when you're in the car you need to have your gun in a more accessible place."

Yes I agree. I always PocketCarry. You're right. When behind-the-wheel pocket carry is slow and difficult.
I "learned"(see above quote) a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, when the "sudden-unexpected" happens, my pistol needs to be *attached* to me.
Counter CarJacking Rig: Mitch Rosen

Good Luck & Stay Safe.

 

[Old cop]

I use a Sticky Holster for pocket carry for two reasons; (1) Stays firmly in my pocket; & (2) I can transfer my gun (340PD or LCP) to IWB/appendix when behind the wheel.

 

[MichiganScott]

3. Pocket carry is OK if you're standing and walking but when you're in the car you need to have your gun in a more accessible place. I now remember to keep my gun next to me in the car where I can easily reach for it.

The only problem with keeping the gun next to you when you drive is that it will not be there if you have to brake hard or are involved in a vehicular accident. One of the agents involved in the 1986 FBI Miami shootout was disarmed because he had his pistol under his leg.

If you keep it in a center console it will be available if needed. When I still pocket carried I pulled both the gun and holster and placed it in the console. A little bit slower than a dedicated driving holster, but it wasn't going anyplace. I find a cross draw holster worn at 10-11 O'clock works for me both in and out of the vehicle..

 

[Arik]

I would have thrown it in reverse IF he started to approach. Otherwise he can get in his car and start following me!!!!

I once had a similar situation with a cop. My friend had just moved and I was leaving his house after dark (after helping him move). I was unfamiliar with the area and thought I made the correct turn. I turned behind a cop and was basically following him. We were the only two on the road. I kept making every turn he was. It wasn't on purpose and I was more concentrated on reading street signs and trying to remember what looked familiar then on the fact that I was following him, although I knew he was in front of me. After a few minutes he stops in the middle of the road and gets out. I immediately realized what was going on. Kept my hands on the wheel and lowered the window when he approached. He asked if there was a reason I was following him...... I explained the situation and he got back in his car and had me follow him to the main road that I was looking for! After that I beeped a "thank you" and made my turn

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[Rpg]

I wonder if OP was eating his fast food breakfast as he drove.

If so, that's the primary situational awareness failure.

 

[PatAz]

There are lots of morons out there, don't overthink it.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Gangbanger-looking or not, this dude basically seems to me to have been acting on an assumption that people are mostly civilized but not always good drivers. He was pissed, but he didn't overtly threaten you. He approached you without thinking he might get shot. That's not a proof, but it's a hint that he was not thinking about violence. While I certainly endorse your attempting to improve your capability of a quick and violent response, I also notice that it actually was NOT called for here, even though it initially seemed to be. All the more reason for a capability of speed, so that you don't feel obliged to respond prematurely.

 

[vytoland]

. I was on my way to work, trying to drink my coffee or whatever and not thinking and being aware of the potential danger.

Dont Drink N Drive.....

 

[Ziggy2525]

Yes, I know that now but the whole situation caused me to think that if I had been doing nothing wrong, and this guy just wanted to rob me or attack me for some reason I would've been caught off-guard and was unprepared to counter it, so it taught me to be more aware of my surroundings and to make sure my gun is somewhere were I can quickly get to it.

Regardless, it's never a good idea to get out of your car in the middle of the road to confront someone over some real or perceived slight. Had I given this guy the wrong kind of look or flipped him off or something, he could've gotten violent. He looked like the type who would have.

In that case, didn't you already have your best weapon for those circumstances pointing right at him? (your car)

 

[Jessie]

My belief is that if you haven't had a situational awareness fail today, you haven't evaluated things enough.
We all have them and most go unoticed because nothing ever developed.
All you can do is what you're already doing. Think about things that happened and think about what you might have done differently.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Just my opinion, but unless you're stuck/trapped by traffic, obstacles, other cars, etc., the best option is to drive away. Chances are, you can throw your car into reverse and punch it quicker than drawing a gun. Leave enough space between your car and the car in front of you, and you could probably go around or make a u-turn if you're blocked from behind. (Curb? What curb? ). In the book Defensive Living by Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding (which I recommend), I believe the authors mention that most vehicle attacks could've been avoided if the driver had just backed up away from the situation.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be better to acquiesce and walk (or drive) away than escalate, which sounds like what you did.

Personally, I think you did ok, given the circumstances. I think you'll be paying a little more attention next time, maybe even have some plans/options thought out beforehand, with some mental rehearsals.

Last thought. Nobody can maintain 100% situational awareness 100% of the time. Even teams of highly trained bodyguards don't catch everything.

At times, everybody gets distracted by some...oooh! Butterfly!

 

[gwpercle]

One of my biggest pet peeves is Tailgaters , I was taught to leave at least one car length between myself and the next car. Safety is the reason I was given. The "gaters" will leave 3 feet and that is dangerous and irritates me also.
The other pet peeve is the "gaters" at the red light will leave 3 car lengths between them and the next car....I was taught to leave 6 feet here , more cars can pass through on the green cycle.
People need to realize they shouldn't tailgate !
" I did nothing wrong"....yes you did ...you were tailgating and most people don't like it. Show some care and caution.
Gary

 

[Texas40]

One of my biggest pet peeves is Tailgaters , I was taught to leave at least one car length between myself and the next car. Safety is the reason I was given. The "gaters" will leave 3 feet and that is dangerous and irritates me also.
The other pet peeve is the "gaters" at the red light will leave 3 car lengths between them and the next car....I was taught to leave 6 feet here , more cars can pass through on the green cycle.
People need to realize they shouldn't tailgate !
" I did nothing wrong"....yes you did ...you were tailgating and most people don't like it. Show some care and caution.
Gary

Except with the way most drivers drive especially in a city 1.5 million you never make progress. Any space large enough some joker shoots in to it. So you drop back and it repeats.

I dont like gaters but IF you run in to the back of me YOUR at fault.

I


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[Ziggy2525]

One of my biggest pet peeves is Tailgaters , I was taught to leave at least one car length between myself and the next car. Safety is the reason I was given. The "gaters" will leave 3 feet and that is dangerous and irritates me also.
The other pet peeve is the "gaters" at the red light will leave 3 car lengths between them and the next car....I was taught to leave 6 feet here , more cars can pass through on the green cycle.
People need to realize they shouldn't tailgate !
" I did nothing wrong"....yes you did ...you were tailgating and most people don't like it. Show some care and caution.
Gary

Rule of thumb I learned is if stop so you can see where the rear tires on the car in front of you is contacting the pavement, you have enough room to not be blocked in. If you can't see the rear tires of the car ahead of you contacting the ground, you're too close.

 

[686-380]

My situation was similar, except the other guy was in my Lane of travel's left turn lane. He must have just zoomed up, because it seemed he suddenly appeared. He made an angry gesture and I just threw up my hands. My Bodyguard.380 was inaccessible because I was coming from the VA. Fortunately, I let him go and that was that.

 

[BE Mike]

I recommend leaving plenty of space between you and the car ahead. I use the 2 second rule. I don't worry about people cutting into the crack, I just follow them 2 seconds. Most of the folks who weave in and out and pass and cut in don't get to their destination in a meaningfully quicker time. I always pocket carry, but usually have a second handgun easy to access while seated. As has been stated, you'll get zoned out sometimes and not be prepared for a confrontation, but that's life. I've been approached by a pedestrian at a red light, who wasn't collecting for crippled children. Seeing him approach out of my peripheral vision, I had my handgun in my lap, by the time he reached my window. He decided that he really didn't need to "talk" to me, when he saw what was in my hand, on my lap.

 

[joeintexas]

The outcome obviously was good, no one hurt and lessons learned. You mentioned you would pay more attention to having weapon assessable, good idea there, however, I would add lose the morning coffee and Egg breakfast in the car, get up earlier, eat at home or sit down in restaurant. No way can anyone drive in morning traffic and have a meal with drink and concentrate on driving. In one hand you have a cup of screaming hot coffee and in the other a 3000 lb weapon. Not trying to be critical here, just making an observation, hope I didn't offend, you seem to be thinking this situation through, that's a good thing. I have certainly made my share of boo boo's.