“Drive to Survive!”
By Curt Rich
Book Review by Gregg Leary

“Drive to Survive!” may be the best investment you will ever make. For the price of a discount oil change you will learn tips that may save your life or that of a loved one. Curt Rich’s advice will pay dividends every time you sit behind the wheel of your car.

“It’s a hostile world out there. People get carjacked. They also get shot at, sometimes with no apparent provocation. They are robbed in parking lots and in their garages. Drivers on the road are becoming more and more aggressive, less caring or aware of the effects of their actions on other drivers, and far more dangerous.

“From simple situational awareness to evasive maneuvers like the bootlegger hairpin turn, ‘Drive to Survive!’ gives you the tools and techniques to become a ‘combat master’ of your automobile. Author Curt Rich draws on his personal experience and expertise as a former Army Captain, graduate of numerous high-performance driving schools, two-time SCCA National Rally Champion, and as an instructor for the Porsche Club of America to instruct readers how to avoid becoming the victims of road rage, car jackings, kidnapping, and even traffic accidents. Complete with 50 diagrams and photos that illustrate how to carry out the techniques, ‘Drive to Survive!’ is a necessary tool for all drivers who want to survive the ravages of the modern-day road.”

I read “Drive to Survive!” in an evening. I was fascinated at Rich’s common sense approach to driving. Unfortunately, common sense is all too uncommon today and many of the things we were taught in Driver’s Ed are NOT correct. The book is divided into an Introduction and nine short chapters.

Combat Survival Techniques for the Road
A Guide to Situational Awareness
Combat Concepts for the Road
Avoiding the Dumb Accident
High-Performance Driving Techniques for the Road
Avoiding the Crazies
Evasive Driving Techniques
Kidnapping and Carjacking
Defeating Murphy
Putting it All Together

Curt Rich is an entertaining writer. He draws upon sources as varied as combat training and the Bible.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” Matthew 10:16

“Having people trying to kill you makes you a fast learner. Learning by experience is usually fatal in combat. You have to learn by the experience of others.” Rich utilizes his combat training in teaching us driving techniques. We’ve heard the expressions “It’s a jungle out there,” and “It’s a war out there,” in describing our morning commute. In reality we are dealing with hundreds of two ton missiles every day.

“The key to survival in any hostile environment is situational awareness, how to know what’s going on around you. If you are going to survive, the first thing to learn is how to stay alert so no one sneaks up on you and you get a chance to react to potentially dangerous situations.” It starts with correctly adjusting your rear-view and side-view mirrors. Chances are you have been taught incorrectly!

Do you think someone is following you?
Rich gives a foolproof way of finding out. You make three consecutive right turns. If the car is still behind you…you ARE being followed. What do you do next? DON’T go home! Call 911 on your cell phone and drive to the nearest police station, fire station, hospital emergency room entrance or even a full-service gas station.

Some techniques are so simple…and so often ignored.

The two second rule in following another vehicle.

The two second pause at a green light.

Look where you want to go...not at what you want to hit.

“Studies have shown that drivers using cellular phones are as dangerous as drunk drivers.”

The correct hand position on the steering wheel. (Why the 9 and 3 position also protects your arms from airbag deployment.)

Why you should drive “thumbs up.”

How can you determine the correct distance you should sit from the steering wheel and pedals?

“Set yourself above the incompetence. Drive competently and avoid the incompetent.”

Leave yourself at least half car length behind the car in front of you when you stop at a stop light, in case a carjacker exits from either the car in front of you or the one behind. You can shoot the gap and drive away. Constantly scan your mirrors for suspicious activity.

I have barely scratched the surface of the valuable information in “Drive to Survive!” that could save your life. It rates four out of five lug nuts. Buy copies for all the drivers in your family at SPEEDtv.com, Keyword, “Books.”