Just checked the RAC advice for drivers site and found this little gem.

[Bushtrekker]

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
There has been a series of robberies and express kidnappings on or around the motorway connecting Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, Dunkirk and the Channel Ports - particularly towards the southern end of the route. Perpetrators of these incidents have been using threats of violence and carrying knives and/or firearms. In the early hours they have been flagging down vehicles, seeming to seek assistance, or kidnapping single drivers outside petrol stations or 24-hour stores. The perpetrators have generally been gangs with Eastern European connections, sometimes using UK-registered vehicles. They have been robbing victims on the spot or taking their victims under force to the nearest ATM to extract as much cash as their cards will allow.

 

[Mad Manx]

Dont know anything about this company but it looks like a decent course .

Control Risks Training | Courses Introduction

for the less savvied and confident driver it might help .

 

[Bushtrekker]

Control Risks was founded by David Stirling, who founded the SAS.

The BBC uses them to train staff at risk from kidnappers and they supply close protection staff, but it's difficult to do a 'J' turn in a camper and I don't think the French police would be too pleased if I shot somebody who had genuinely broken down. It's always useful to have a fire extinguisher or can of spray deodorant handy in the driver's seat area though, as neither of them could be construed as an offensive weapon and either of them will give you time to get clear if you spray them in an attackers face. Self defence is always difficult to prove in court, but you have to ask yourself whether you want to survive, for most people the answer will be yes.

I would have no hesitation in killing anyone who threatened me or my family and worrying about it later.

 

[fishy & Nina]

The BBC uses them to train staff at risk from kidnappers and they supply close protection staff, but it's difficult to do a 'J' turn in a camper and I don't think the French police would be too pleased if I shot somebody who had genuinely broken down. It's always useful to have a fire extinguisher or can of spray deodorant handy in the driver's seat area though, as neither of them could be construed as an offensive weapon and either of them will give you time to get clear if you spray them in an attackers face. Self defence is always difficult to prove in court, but you have to ask yourself whether you want to survive, for most people the answer will be yes.

I would have no hesitation in killing anyone who threatened me or my family and worrying about it later.

I thought I'd heard of Control Risks somewhere - David Stirling - now he was one of life's great characters!

 

[Smaug]

Hhhmm, a can of spray paint, same colour as the van might be good, as it marks the assailant as well as deterring them from an actual attack & no-one could say it wasn't in your cab for good reason.

Could also be used to change "No Camping" signs into "Camping" ones if you have a bog standard white van. :lol-053:

 

[Bushtrekker]

Not a bad idea.

Just nice and handy for when someone points something nasty through your window and tells you to wind it down. If he can't see he can't shoot, so it puts the advantage back with you. Just forget playing fair and go for it, if they are in the way knock them down, if you get hold of a gun remember to release the safety catch, check that it's loaded and that the bit with the hole in the end needs to be pointing towards your assailant.

 

[Bushtrekker]

I agree and the best course of defence is always getting away.

It's always best to be prepared for the one who isn't just after money and in those circumstances it's best to be prepared. As far as I'm concerned if someone point a gun or a knife at me they've just announced their intention to kill me, so I have the right to use lethal force on them to protect myself if necessary, within the law of wherever I am.

 

[fishy & Nina]

It's always best to be prepared for the one who isn't just after money and in those circumstances it's best to be prepared. As far as I'm concerned if someone point a gun or a knife at me they've just announced their intention to kill me, so I have the right to use lethal force on them to protect myself if necessary, within the law of wherever I am.

Totally agree!

The only caveat I would say is that there are many amongst us who may not have the knowledge / control to carry out what some of us have been trained to do.

If in doubt, let them get on with it - hard call sometimes!