Fw: [Fwd: Fw: for what it's worth]]

["Becky" <bechack@sierratel.com>]

So many of us are out on the road late either to get to a ride or coming
home, that this is pertinent to most of us...

Subject: for what it's worth]
>
>
>>This is good information for all.
>>
>>Ladies or Gents to pass along to female family members/friends:
>>
>>In case you haven't seen the following...please read...very important
>>
>>for your safety.
>>
>>
>>
>>I headed for home by myself at approximately 10pm. I was...between
>>
>>exits...when a car pulled into the right most lane beside me (I was in
>>
>>the center lane) and started matching speeds with me.  After a minute,
>>
>>I tried to slow down so he would pass.  He slowed,  too.  I regained
>>
>>my previous speed, and he sped up with me.  Finally  after a few minutes
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>>of this, he pulled slightly ahead of me, rolled down his window and
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>>motioned towards my tire as though something was wrong.
>>
>>
>>
>>The man had already begun to make me nervous by driving along side me
>>
>>for some distance on the mostly empty highway, and now my
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>>training took over.
>>
>>"This man is trying to get me off the road by myself here in
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>>the dark," I thought.
>>
>>This, in case you are unfamiliar with the area, is basically the middle
>>
>>of nowhere.  I know my car.  I am very careful with maintenance, and I
>>
>>am
>>
>>an experienced driver.  I know what a flat tire feels like.  I knew my
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>>car
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>>was fine.  I put on my turn signal and moved to the right-most lane
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>>behind
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>>the man anyway and slowed down slightly (there is always the
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>>chance that something could have been wrong, better to be prepared).
>>
>>The
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>>other car pulled onto the shoulder and started slowing down.  Now I knew
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>>he
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>>was definitely trying to get me to pull over.  I passed him, he swerved
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>>back
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>>on the road and drove right behind me.  At the next exit, there were two
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>>gas
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>>stations.  They were well lit and there were a few people there.
>>
>>
>>
>>I exited,  he followed.  Not only this, but a car I had not previously
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>>noticed, that was in front of us suddenly swerved off the exit when I
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>>put my turn signal on.  I know this scenario.  I grew up in some pretty
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>>bad
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>>areas.  I have had training in this.  At this point, everything I had
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>>learned
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>>was in control.  I decided not to stop anywhere.
>>
>>
>>
>>By now there was absolutely no doubt that my car was fine.  When we
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>>approached the stop sign at the dark, empty intersection after the
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>>gas stations, the car ahead of me put on his left turn signal and
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>>stopped.
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>>I checked for traffic as I approached the intersection, then pulled
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>>around
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>>him to the right, and headed straight back for the highway.  Both the
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>>car
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>>that had been ahead and the one that had been following me turned left
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>>across
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>>the highway and did not pursue further.
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>>
>>
>>I have now carefully checked my car in a safe place when I knew I was no
>>
>>longer being followed.  It is in perfect condition.   This is a classic
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>>scenario for car jackers to use at night.  I feel lucky that I was well
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>>prepared and didn't have to think too much about what to do.
>>
>>
>>
>>1.  Don't ever let yourself be caught between two cars.   Car jackers
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>>    often work in pairs, attempting to corner your vehicle.
>>
>>
>>
>>2.  Don't ever pull off the road at night by yourself in a dark,
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>>    unpopulated place.
>>
>>
>>
>>3.  Carry a cell phone - I'm going to get one!!
>>
>>
>>
>>4.  Stay calm.  Don't try any tricks.  If you are in an accident, you
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>>    are vulnerable.
>>
>>
>>
>>5.  Remember that most criminals want easy victims...DON'T LET YOURSELF
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>>    BECOME ONE!!!
>>
>>
>>
>>6.  Make sure you find out how to react BEFORE you are in the situation!
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>>    These situations are unfortunately real and dangerous.  Thinking
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>>about
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>>    it when it happens is too late!
>>
>>
>>
>>7.  ALWAYS make sure you do not stop until you are CERTAIN that help is
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>>    present (i.e., even if you are in a slight accident, head straight
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>>for
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>>    the police station, and don't stop until you are there.  Car jackers
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>>    often slightly damage vehicles by bumpingthem from the rear to try
>>
>>to get
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>>    the driver to get out.)
>>
>>
>>
>>GOOD ENOUGH TO READ?  PASS IT ON!
>>
>>KAREN L CAMPBELL
>>
>>Attorney at Law
>>
>>EMail:  Karen.L.Campbell@sdma.com
>>
>>Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold
>>
>>New York, NY USA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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