Corporate and Government security operatives, private investigators, specialist police personnel and other security organisations have a need to remain undetected while working. Work includes professional driving.

As well as the surveillance aspect, stealth driving is an extension of traditional driving skills where extreme care is taken to ensure personal safety and security. Additionally, extraordinary driving techniques may be called upon when difficulties arise.

Proactive Driving
When first learning to drive, the tendency is to be reactive rather than proactive. Being reactive means waiting to see what others are doing before deciding what to do next. This can change with experience as your driving begins to reflect your personality and attitude. A proactive driver tends to be better at perceiving the risk in traffic situations ahead and is often able to control situations through off-centre positioning and gentle adjustments of speed. Controlling the space behind you isn't always so easy, though intelligent use of the brake light signals can help.

Your toolbox of signals includes the horn and headlamps. Their use, especially the flashing of the headlamps is generally abused. Employed as the Highway Code prescribes, as a warning of presence, both are signals that the stealth driver need not be embarrassed to use !

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Car Control Techniques
If there's a safety threat to your security, depending on the circumstances, extraordinary driving techniques may be needed.

Emergency Braking. If you have to stop suddenly on a dry, even and firm road surface, then you simply brake very hard. In adverse weather or on a poor road surface the best braking technique is `threshold braking'. This is the skill of removing the excess pressure off the brakes to gain maximum efficiency avoid any skid. `Cadence braking', that is, pumping the brake pedal repeatedly should be a second resort. In a vehicle fitted with an ABS system, just brake hard.

Turning the car round. A danger ahead may require a need to turn round quickly. The evasive action can begin with an emergency stop to maximise the distance between you and your assailant. You might use a `two-point' turn where you reverse into a side road or driveway on the left or right behind you. You'll need to reverse straight quickly then slow the speed as you steer hard left or right into the opening. As you reach 90°, brake firm, select first gear, apply full opposite lock and accelerate hard. Alternatively, if the the road is wide enough, you can go straight into a forward `U-turn' at a speed of 20 mph or less, using second gear, releasing the clutch fully before turning the wheel. Straighten the wheel before accelerating. Another option is a `J-turn' / `reverse flick'. This is a backwards U-turn where you in reverse quickly, steering hard to the right, slow the car and as you come off the gas, simultaneously steer left before it reaches 180°, select first gear and accelerate hard. The `Handbrake Turn' is the least precise form of turning the car round. Begin by changing down, but use more revs to maintain speed. First, turn the wheel a quarter of a turn to the left and then quickly to the right simultaneously applying the handbrake hard. Do not release the locking button. Once a 180° change of direction has been achieved, simply release the handbrake and accelerate.

As soon as appropriate where any of these techniques are used, pull up and check the tyres for damage. Other extra-ordinary techniques including `ramming', `drive through' and `mounting the pavement'. These unusual manoeuvres require a controlled process of off-road specialist training. Best practice is to be streetwise and keep out of trouble !

Anti-Hijack
The most common perception of car crime is the so called `joy-riding' where cars are stolen, abused and then sometimes set fire to. Serious car crime is far more organised, the two main forms being `car-jacking', where an assailant enters the car and takes it by force from the owner; the other is `car-dipping' where a theft is made from occupied cars.

The risk increases whenever the driver stops such as at red traffic lights and in queues of traffic. There are some precautions that can be taken to minimise the risk, including keeping valuables out of sight and locking your doors in urban areas; adopting a driving style where you keep out of the left hand lane and you time your movements against those of other vehicles and traffic light changes.

For general safety's sake, every driver needs to be alert. Drivers of prestige cars require total spatial awareness. In car parks and stops for petrol try to pull up where there are other people around. Raise attention before you leave your vehicle by using the horn.

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